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Cfce  Hibtarp 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


ENDOWED  BY  THE 

DIALECTIC  AND  PHILANTHROPIC 

SOCIETIES 


PS1029 
.A3 

E75 
1891 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00008078983 


This  book  is  due  at  the  WALTER  R.  DAVIS  LIBRARY  on 
the  last  date  stamped  under  "Date  Due."  If  not  on  hold  it 
may  be  renewed  by  bringing  it  to  the  library. 

DATE                           RET 
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DATE                            RET 
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: 

1/ 

i 

THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


ENDOWED  BY  THE 

DIALECTIC  AND  PHILANTHROPIC 

SOCIETIES 


813 
A395e 


This  book  is  due  at  the  LOUIS  R.  WILSON  LIBRARY  on  the 

last  date  stamped  under  "Date  Due."  If  not  on  hold  it  may  be 


iciieweu  oy  on 

nging  u  10  me 

norary. 

DUEE                    RET 

DATE 

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"t   HAVE   SOME   BUSINESS   WITH   YOU." 


r 


The  Erie  Train  Boy 


By 
Horatio  Alger 


Illustrated 


rv> 


& 


, 


New  York  and   Boston 
H.    M.   Caldwell   Company 
Publishers 


Copyright,  i8qi, 
United  States  Book  Company 
(All  Rights  Reserved) 


The  Erie  Train  Boy 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ON  THE  ERIE  ROAD. 

"  Papers,  magazines,  all  the  popular  novels ! 
Can't  I  sell  you  something  this  morning  ?  " 

Joshua  Bascom  turned  as  the  train  boy  addressed 
him,  and  revealed  an  honest,  sunburned  face, 
lighted  up  with  pleasurable  excitement,  for  he  was 
a  farmer's  son  and  was  making  his  first  visit  to 
the  city  of  New  York. 

"  I  ain't  much  on  story  readin',''  he  said.  "  I 
tried  to  read  a  story  book  once,  but  I  couldn't  seem 
to  £;et  interested  in  it." 

"  What  was  the  name  of  it  ?  "  asked  Fred,  the 
train  boy,  smiling. 

"  It  was  the  '  Pilgrim's  Pro^r^m,'  or  some  such 
name.  It  had  pictures  into  it.  Aunt  Nancy  give 
it  to  dad  for  a  birthday  present  once." 

"  I  have  heard  of  it." 

"  It  was  a  mighty  queer  book.  I  couldn't  make 
head  nor  tail  on't." 


5755*6 


6  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  All  books  are  not  like  that." 

"I  don't  feel  like  readin'.  It's  a  nuff  sight 
more  interestin'  lookin'  out  of  the  winder  at  the 
sights.  I'm  going  to  York  to  spend  a  week-*" 
added  Joshua,  with  an  air  of  importance. 

"  That's  where  I  live,"  said  the  train  boy. 

"  Do  you  ?  Then  you  might  tell  me  where  to  put 
up.  I've  got  ten  dollars.  I  reckon  that  ought  to 
keep  me  a  week." 

Fred  smiled. 

"  That  is  more  then  enough  to  keep  me,"  he 
said,  "but  it  costs  a  stranger  considerable  to  go 
around.     But  I  shall  have  to  go  my  rounds." 

It  was  a  train  on  the  Erie  road,  and  the  car  had 
just  passed  Middletown.  Joshua  was  sitting  by 
the  window,  and  the  seat  beside  him  was  vacant. 
The  train  boy  had  scarcely  left  the  car  when  a 
stylishly  dressed  3'oung  man  who  had  been  sitting 
behind,  came  forward  and  accosted  Joshua. 

"  Is  this  seat  engaged  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Not  as  I  know  of,"  answered  the  young 
farmer. 

"  Then  with  your  permission  I  will  take  it,"  said 
the  stranger. 

"  Why  of  course  ;  I  hain't  no  objection.  He's 
dreadful  polite  !  "  thought  Joshua. 

"You  are  from  the  country,  I  presume?"  said 
the  newcomer  as  he  sank  into  the  seat. 

"  Yes,  I  be.  I  live  up  Elmira  way — town  of 
Barton.     Was  you  ever  in  Barton  ?  " 


THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY.  ? 

"  I  have  passed  through  it.  I  suppose  you  are 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  ?  " 

"Hey?" 

"  You  are  a  farmer,  I  take  it." 

"  Yes  ;  I  work  on  dad's  farm.  He  owns  a  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  acres,  and  me  and  a  hired 
man  help  him  to  carry  it  on.  I  tell  you  we  have 
to  work." 

"  Just  so  !  And  now  you  are  taking  a  vacation  ?  " 

"  Yes.     I've  come  to  see  the  sights  of  York." 

"  I  think  you  will  enjoy  your  visit.  Ahem  !  the 
mayor  of  New  York  is  my  uncle." 

"  You  don't  say  ?  "  ejaculated  Joshua,  awestruck. 

"  Yes  !  My  name  is  Ferdinand  Morris." 

"  Glad  to  know  you,  Mr.  Morris.  My  name  is 
Joshua  Bascom." 

"  Indeed  !  An  aunt  of  mine  married  a  Bascom. 
Perhaps  we  are  related." 

Joshua  was  quite  elated  at  the  thought  that 
he  might  in  some  way  be  related  to  the  mayor  of 
New  York  without  knowing  it,  and  he  resolved  to 
expatiate  on  that  subject  when  he  went  back  to 
Barton.  He  decided  that  his  new  acquaintance 
must  be  rich,  for  he  was  dressed  in  showy  style 
and  had  a  violet  in  his  buttonhole. 

"Be  you  in  business,  Mr.  Morris?"  he  asked. 

"  Well,  ahem  !  I  am  afraid  that  I  am  rather  an 
idler.  My  father  left  me  a  quarter  of  a  million,  and 
so  I  don't  feel  the  need  of  working." 

"  Quarter   of  a  million !  "    ejaculated  Joshua. 


8  -       THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Why,  that's  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  doL 
lars." 

"  Just  so,"  said  Morris,  smiling. 

"  That's  an  awful  pile  of  money !  Why,  dad's 
been  workin'  all  his  life,  and  he  isn't  wuth  more'n 
three  thousand  dollars  at  the  outside." 

"  I  am  afraid  three  thousand  dollars  wouldn't 
last  me  a  very  long  time,"  said  Morris,  with  an 
amused  smile. 

"  Gosh  !  Where  can  anybody  get  such  a  pile  of 
money?     That's  what  beats  me !  " 

"  Business,  my  young  friend,  business  !  Why 
I've  made  that  amount  of  money  in  one  day." 

"You  don't  say  !" 

"  Yes,  by  speculating  in  Wall  Street." 

"  You  must  be  smart !  " 

"  My  teachers  didn't  seem  to  think  so.  But  life 
in  the  city  is  very  different  from  life  in  the  country." 

"I  wish  I  could  make  some  money." 

"  A  man  must  have  money  to  make  money.  If 
now  you  had  a  little  money " 

"  I've  got  ten  dollars  to  pay  my  expenses." 

"Is  that  all?" 

"  No  ;  I've  got  fifteen  dollars  to  buy  a  shawl 
and  dress  for  marm,  and  some  shirts  for  dad.  He 
thought  he'd  like  some  boughten  shirts.  The  last 
marm  made  for  him  didn't  fit  very  well." 

"  You  must  take  good  care  of  your  money,  Mr. 
Bascom.  I  regret  to  say  that  we  have  a  greai 
many  pickpockets  in  New  York." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  9 

"  So  I've  heerd.  That's  what  Jim  Duffy  told 
me.  He  went  to  York  last  spring.  But  I  guess 
Jim  was  keerless  or  he  wouldn't  have  been  robbed. 
It  would  take  a  smart  pickpocket  to  rob  me." 

"  Then  you  keep  your  money  in  a  safe  place  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  keep  my  wallet  in  my  breeches  pocket ;  " 
and  Joshua  slapped  the  right  leg  of  his  trousers  in 
a  well  satisfied  way. 

"  You  are  right !  I  see  you  are  a  man  of  the 
world.     You  are  a  sharp  one." 

Joshua  laughed  gleefully.  He  felt  pleased  at  the 
compliment. 

"  Yes,"  he  chuckled,  "  I  ain't  easy  taken  in,  I 
tell  you,  ef  I  was  born  in  the  woods." 

"  It  is  easy  to  see  that.  You  can  take  care  of 
yourself." 

"  So  I  can." 

"That  comes  of  being  a  Bascom.  I  am  glad 
to  know  that  we  are  related.  You  must  call  on 
me  in  New  York." 

"  Where  do  you  live?  " 

"  At  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel.  Just  ask  for  Fer- 
dinand Morris.     They  all  know  me  there." 

"  Is  that  a  good  place  to  stop  ?  " 

"  Yes,  if  you've  got  money  enough.  I  pay  five 
dollars  a  day  for  my  board,  and  some  extras  carry 
it  up  to  fifty  dollars  a  week." 

"  Gosh  all  hemlock !  "  ejaculated  Joshua,  "  I 
don't  want  to  pay  no  more'n  five  dollars  a 
week." 


10  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"  You  can  perhaps  find  a  cheap  boarding-house 
for  that  sum — with  plain  board,  of  course." 

"  That's  what  I'm  used  to.  I'm  willin'  to  get 
nlong  without  pie." 

"You  like  pie,  then?" 

"  We  ginerally  have  it  on  the  table  at  every 
meal,  but  I  can  wait  till  I  get  home." 

"  I  will  see  what  I  can  do  for  you.  In  fact,  all 
you've  got  to  do  is  to  buy  a  morning  paper,  and 
pick  Out  a  boarding-house  where  the  price  will  suit 
you.  You  must  come  and  dine  with  me  some  day 
at  the  Firth  Avenue  Hotel." 

"  Thank  you !  You're  awful  kind,  but  I'm  afraid 
I  ain't  dressbd  up  enough  for  such  a  stylish  place." 

"  Well,  perhaps  not,  but  I  might  lend  you  a 
suit  to  go  to  the  table  in.  We  are  about  the  same 
build." 

"  If  you've  got  an  extra  suit " 

"  An  extra  suit  ?  Mr.  Bascom,  I  have  at  least 
twenty  extra  suits." 

"  Gee-whillikens  !  What  do  you  want  with  so 
many  clothes  ?  " 

"I  never  wear  the  same  suit  two  days  in  succes- 
sion. But  I  must  bid  you  good-morning,  Mr.  Bas- 
com.    I  have  a  friend  in  the  next  car." 

Morris  rose,  and  Joshua,  feeling  much  flattered 
with  his  polite  attentions,  resumed  his  glances  out 
of  the  window. 

"  Apples,  oranges,  bananas ! "  called  the  train 
boy,  entering  the  car  with  a  basket  of  fruit. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  \\ 

"How  much  do  you  charge?"  asked  Joshua. 
"  I  feel  kind  of  hungry,  and  I  haven't  ate  an  orange 
for  an  age.  Last  time  I  bought  one  was  at  the  gro- 
cery up  to  hum." 

"  The  large  oranges  are  five  cents  apiece,"  said 
Fred.  "  I  can  give  you  two  small  ones  for  the  same 
price." 

"I'll  take  two  small  ones.  It  seems  a  great  deal 
of  money,  but  I'm  traveling  and  that  makes  a  dif- 
ference." 

"  Here  are  two  good  ones  !  "  said  Fred,  picking 
out  a  couple. 

"  All  right !  I'll  take  'em  !  " 

Joshua  Bascom  thrust  his  hand  into  his  pocket, 
and  then  a  wild  spasm  contracted  his  features.  He 
explored  it  with  growing  excitement,  and  a  sickly 
pallor  overspread  his  face. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  I've  been  robbed.  My  wallet's  gone  !  "  groaned 
Joshua  in  a  husky  voice. 


12  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  FAEEt  EXCHANGE, 

**  Who  can  have  robbed  you  ?  "  asked  the  train 
boy,  sympathetically. 

"  I  dunno,"  answered  Joshua  sadly. 

"  How  much  have  you  lost  ?  " 

"  Twenty-five  dollars.  No,"  continued  Mr.  Bas- 
com  with  a  shade  of  relief.  "  I  put  dad's  fifteen 
dollars  in  my  inside  vest  pocket." 

"  That  is  lucky.     So  you've  only  lost  ten." 

"  It  was  all  I  had  to  spend  in  York.  I  guess  I'll 
have  to  turn  round  and  go  back." 

"But  who  could  have  taken  it  ?  Who  has  been 
with  you  ?  " 

"  Only  Mr.  Morris,  a  rich  young  man.  He  is 
nephew  to  the  mayor  of  New  York." 

"Who  said  so?" 

"  He  told  me  so  himself." 

"  How  was  he  dressed  ? "  asked  Fred,  whose 
suspicions  were  aroused.  "  Did  he  wear  a  white 
hat?" 

"  Yes." 

"  And  looked  like  a  swell  ?  " 


■ 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  13 

"  Yes." 

"  He  got  off  at  the  last  station.  It  is  he  that 
robbed  you." 

"But  it  can't  be,"  said  Joshua  earnestly.  "  He 
told  me  he  was  worth  quarter  of  a  million  dollars, 
and  boarded  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel." 

"  And  was  nephew  of  the  mayor  ?  " 

"Yes." 

Fred  laughed. 

"  He  is  no  more  the  mayor's  nephew  than  I  am," 
he  said.     "  He  is  a  confidence  man." 

"  How  do  you  know  ? "  asked  Joshua,  per- 
plexed. 

"  That  is  the  way  they  all  act.  He  saw  you  were 
a  countryman,  and  made  up  his  mind  to  rob  you. 
Did  you  tell  him  where  you  kept  your  money  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  did.  He  told  me  there  was  lots  of  pick- 
pockets in  New  York,  and  said  I  ought  to  be  keer- 
ful." 

"  He  ought  to  know." 

"  Can't  I  get  my  money  back  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Bas- 
com  anxiously. 

"  I  don't  think  there's  much  chance.  Even  if 
you  should  see  him  some  time,  you  couldn't  prove 
that  he  robbed  you." 

"  I'd  like  to  see  him — for  five  minutes,"  said  the 
young  farmer,  with  a  vengeful  light  in  his  eyes. 

"What  would  you  do?" 

"  I'd  give  him  an  all-fired  shakin'  up,  that's  what 
I'd  do.'* 


14  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

Looking  at  Mr.  Bascom's  broad  shoulders  and 
muscular  arms,  Fred  felt  that  he  would  be  likely 
to  keep  his  word  in  a  most  effectual  manner. 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  do,"  groaned  Joshua,  re- 
lapsing into  gloom. 

As  he  spoke  he  slid  his  hand  into  his  pocket  once 
more,  and  quickly  drew  it  out  with  an  expression 
of  surprise.  He  held  between  two  fingers  a  hand- 
some gold  ring  set  with  a  neat  stone. 

"  Where  did  that  come  from  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Didn't  you  ever  see  it  before  ?  "  inquired  the 
train  boy. 

"  Never  set  eyes  on  it  in  my  life." 

"  That's  a  joke  ! "  exclaimed  Fred  with  a  laugh. 

"What's  a  joke?" 

"  Why,  the  thief  in  drawing  your  wallet  from 
your  pocket  dropped  his  ring.  You've  made  an 
exchange,  that  is  all." 

"  What  is  it  worth?  "  asked  Joshua,  eagerly. 

"  Permit  me,  my  friend,"  said  a  gentlemen  sit- 
ting just  behind,  as  he  extended  his  hand  for 
the  ring.  "  I  am  a  jeweler  and  can  probably  give 
you  an  idea  of  the  value  of  the  ring." 

Joshua  handed  it  over  readily. 

The  jeweler  eyed  it  carefully,  and  after  a  pause, 
handed  it  back. 

"  My  friend,"  he  said,  "that  ring  is  worth  fifty 
dollars !  " 

"  Fifty  dollars ! "  ejaculated  Joshua,  his  eyes 
distended  with  surprise.     "  I  can't  understand  it. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  ROY.  lfi 

Cousin  Sue  has  got  a  gold  ring  as  big  as  this  that 
only  cost  three  dollars  and  a  half." 

"  Very  likely,  but  the  stone  of  this  is  valuable. 
You've  made  money  out  of  your  pickpocket,  if  hs 
only  took  ten  dollars  from  you." 

"  But  he'll  come  back  for  it." 

The  jeweler  laughed. 

"  If  he  does,  tell  him  where  you  found  it,  and 
ask  how  it  came  in  your  pocket.  He  won't  dare 
to  call  for  it." 

"  I'd  rather  have  the  ten  dollars  than  the  ring." 

"I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do.  I'll  advance  you 
twenty-five  dollars  on  the  ring,  and  agree  to  give 
it  back  to  you  any  time  within  a  year  on  payment 
of  that  sum,  and  suitable  interest." 

"  You  can  have  it,  mister,"  said  Joshua  promptly. 

As  he  pocketed  the  roll  of  bills  given  him  in  ex- 
change, his  face  glowed  with  returning  sunshine. 

"  By  gosh  !  "  he  said,  I've  made  fifteen  dollars." 

"  That  isn't  a  bad  day's  work  !  "  said  Fred. 

"  It's  more'n  I  ever  earned  in  a  month  before," 
said  the  young  farmer.  "  I  declare  it's  paid  me  to 
come  to  the  city." 

"  You  are  lucky !  Look  out  for  pickpockets,  as 
they  don't  always  give  anything  in  exchange.  Now 
you  can  afford  to  buy  some  oranges." 

"  Give  me  two  five  cent  oranges  and  a  banana," 
said  Mr.  Bascom  with  reckless  extravagance. 
"  I  guess  I  can  afford  it,  now  I've  made  fifteen 
dollars." 


16  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"I  wish  that  pickpocket  would  rob  me,"  said 
Fred  smiling.  "  Fifteen  dollars  would  come  in 
handy  just  now,"  and  his  smile  was  succeeded  by 
a  grave  look,  for  money  was  scarce  with  the  little 
household  of  which  he  was  a  member. 

It  is  time  to  speak  more  particularly  of  Fred, 
who  is  the  hero  of  this  story.  He  was  a  pleasant- 
looking,  but  resolute  and  manly  boy,  of  seventeen, 
who  had  now  been  for  some  months  employed  on 
the  Erie  road.  He  had  lost  a  place  which  he  for- 
merly occupied  in  a  store,  on  account  of  the  failure 
of  the  man  whom  he  served,  and  after  some 
weeks  of  enforced  leisure  had  obtained  his  present 
position.  Train  boys  are  required  to  deposit  with 
the  company  ten  dollars  to  protect  their  employer 
from  possible  loss,  this  sum  to  be  returned  at  the 
end  of  their  term  of  service.  They  are,  besides, 
obliged  to  buy  an  official  cap,  such  as  those  of  my 
readers  who  have  traveled  on  any  line  of  railroad 
are  familiar  with.  Fred  had  been  prevented  for 
some  weeks  from  taking  the  place  because  he  had 
not  the  money  required  as  a  deposit.  At  length 
a  gentleman  who  had  confidence  in  him  went  with 
him  to  the  superintendent  and  supplied  the  sum, 
and  this  removing  the  last  obstacle,  Fred  Fenton 
began  his  daily  runs.  He  was  paid  by  a  twenty 
per  cent  commission  on  sales.  It  was  necessary, 
therefore,  for  him  to  take  in  five  dollars  in  order 
to  make  one  for  himself.  He  had  thus  far  man- 
aged to  average  about  a  dollar  a  day,  and  this^ 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  17 

though  small,  was  an  essential  help  to  his  widowed 
mother  with  whom  he  lived. 

Just  before  reaching  Jersey  City,  Joshua  Bascom 
appealed  to  Fred. 

"  Could  you  tell  me  where  to  stop  in  York  ?  " 
he  asked.     "  Some  nice  cheap  place  ?  " 

"  I  know  a  plain  boarding-house  kept  by  a  police- 
man's wife,  who  lives  near  us,"  said  Fred.  "  She 
would  probably  board  you  for  five  dollars  a  week." 

"  By  hokey,  that's  just  the  place,"  said  Joshua. 
"  If  you'll  do  it,  I'll  make  it  all  right  with  you." 

"  Never  mind  about  that !  "  said  Fred,  "  All 
you've  got  to  do  is  to  come  with  me.  It  will  be 
no  trouble." 

2 


18  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  III. 

FEED'S  RICH  RELATION". 

It  was  seven  o'clock  when  Fred  reached  home. 
He  and  his  mother  occupied  three  rooms  in  a  ten- 
ement house,  at  a  rental  of  ten  dollars  a  month.  It 
was  a  small  sum  for  the  city,  but  as  Fred  was  the 
chief  contributor  to  the  family  funds,  rent  da}'  was 
always  one  of  anxiety.  It  so  happened  that  this 
very  day  rent  was  due,  and  Fred  felt  anxious,  for 
his  mother,  when  he  left  home,  had  but  seven  dol- 
lars towards  it. 

He  opened  the  door  of  their  humble  home,  and 
received  a  welcoming  smile  from  Mrs.  Fenton,  a 
pleasant  looking  woman  of  middle  age. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you  back,  Fred,"  she  said. 
"  The  days  seem  long  without  you.'* 

"  Have  you  brought  me  a  picture  book,  Fred  ?  " 
asked  his  little  brother. 

"No,  Bertie,  I  can't  bring  you  picture  books 
every  day.     I  wish  I  could." 

"  Albert  has  been  drawing  from  his  last  book." 
said  Mrs.  Fenton.  "  He  really  has  quite  a  taste 
for  it." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  19 

"We  must  send  him  to  the  Cooper  Institute 
Drawing  School  when  he  gets  older.  Did  the  land- 
lord come,  mother  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mrs.  Fenton,  a  shade  passing 
over  her  face. 

"  What  did  he  say  ?     Did  he  make  any  fuss  ?  " 

"He  was  rough  and  unpleasant.  He  said  he 
must  have  his  money  promptly  or  we  must  vacate 
the  rooms." 

"  Did  he  take  the  seven  dollars  ?  " 

"  Yes,  he  took  it  and  gave  me  a  receipt  on  account. 
He  said  he  must  have  the  balance  to-morrow." 

"  I  don't  see  how  we  can  pay  it.  The  company 
owes  me  more,  but  I  shan't  get  paid  till  Saturday 
night." 

"  Don't  they  advance  it  to  you  ?  " 

"  It  is  against  the  rule.  Besides  I  couldn't  get 
it  in  time." 

"There  is  a  lady  in  Lexington  Avenue  owing 
me  four  dollars  for  sewing,  but  when  I  went  there 
to-day  I  heard  that  she  was  out  of  town." 

"  It  is  very  provoking  to  be  kept  out  of  your 
money  when  you  need  it  so  much.  If  we  only 
had  a  little  money  ahead,  we  could  get  along  well. 
Something  must  be  done,  but  I  don't  know  what." 

"  You  might  go  round  to  Cousin  Ferguson." 

"  I  hate  to  ask  a  favor  of  that  man,  mother." 

"You  remember  that  your  poor  father  owned  a 
«mall  tract  of  land  in  Colorado.  When  Robert 
Ferguson  went  out  three  months   since  I  asked 


20  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

him  to  look  after  it,  and  ascertain  whether  it  was 
of  any  value.  As  I  have  heard  nothing  from  him, 
I  am  afraid  it  is  worthless." 

"  I  will  go  and  ask  him,  mother.  That  is  a 
matter  of  business,  and  I  don't  mind  speaking  to  him 
on  that  subject.     I  will  go  at  once." 

"  Perhaps  he  may  be  willing  to  advance  a  few 
dollars  on  it." 

"  At  any  rate  I  will  go." 

Robert  Ferguson  lived  in  a  plain  brick  house  on 
East  Thirty-Ninth  Street.  He  was  a  down  town 
merchant,  and  in  possession  of  a  snug  competence. 
Mrs.  Fenton  was  his  own  cousin,  but  he  had  never 
offered  to  help  her  in  any  way,  though  he  was  quite 
aware  of  the  fact  that  she  was  struggling  hard  to 
support  her  little  family.  He  had  a  son  Raymond 
who  was  by  no  means  as  plain  in  his  tastes  as  his 
father,  but  had  developed  a  tendency  to  extrava- 
gance which  augured  ill  for  his  future.  He  had 
never  cared  to  cultivate  the  acquaintance  of  his 
poor  cousins,  and  whenever  he  met  Fred  treated 
him  with  ill-concealed  contempt. 

It  so  happened  that  he  was  just  leaving  the  house 
as  Fred  ascended  the  steps. 

"  Good-morning,  Raymond,"  said  Fred  politely. 

"  Oh,  it's  you,  is  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Fred  briefly,  for  he  did  not  like 
the  style  in  which  his  cousin  addressed  him. 

"  What  do  you  want  round  here  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  see  your  father." 


TBE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  21 

"  I  guess  he's  busy." 

"  I  want  to  see  him  on  business."  said  Frett,  pull- 
ing the  bell. 

"If  you  want  to  borrow  any  money  it's  no  use. 
I  struck  him  for  ten  dollars  just  now,  and  he  only 
gave  me  two." 

"  Did  I  say  I  wanted  to  borrow  any  money?" 

"  No,  you  didn't  say  so,  but  I  couldn't  think  of 
any  other  business  you  could  have." 

Fred  did  not  have  occasion  to  answer,  for  here 
the  door  opened,  and  the  servant  stood  on  the 
threshold. 

"Is  Mr.  Ferguson  at  home?"  he  asked. 

"  Yes  ;  will  you  come  in  ?  " 

Fred  followed  the  girl  into  the  back  parlor  where 
Robert  Ferguson  sat  reading  the  evening  paper. 

He  looked  up  as  Fred  entered. 

"  Good  evening,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  he  said. 

"  Good  evening,  Frederick,"  said  his  relative 
coldly. 

"  My  mother  asked  me  to  call  and  inquire 
whether  you  heard  anything  of  father's  land  in 
Colorado." 

"  Ahem !  "  coughed  Mr.  Ferguson.  "  I  hope  she 
built  no  day  dreams  on  its  possible  value." 

"No,  sir;  but  she  hoped  it  might  be  worth 
something — even  a  small  sum  would  be  of  value 
to  us." 

"  The  fact  is,  these  Western  lands  are  worth 
little  or  nothing." 


22  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Father  used  to  say  that  some  time  or  other  the 
land  would  be  worth  a  good  sum." 

"  Then  I  don't  think  much  of  your  father's  judg- 
ment. Why,  I  don't  believe  you  could  give  it 
away.     Let  me  see,  how  much  was  there  ?  " 

"A  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres." 

"  How  did  your  father  get  possession  of  it  ?  " 

"  There  was  a  man  he  took  care  of  in  his  sick- 
ness, who  gave  it  to  him  out  of  gratitude." 

Robert  Ferguson  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"It  would  have  been  better  if  he  had  given 
him  the  same  number  of  dollars,"  he  said. 

"Then  you  don't  think  it  worth  as  much  as 
that?" 

"  No,  I  don't." 

Fred  looked  disappointed.  In  their  darkest 
days,  he  and  his  mother  had  always  thought  of  tin's 
land  as  likely  some  time  to  bring  them  handsomely 
out  of  their  troubles,  and  make  a  modest  provision 
for  their  comfort.  Now  there  seemed  to  be  an  end 
to  this  hope. 

"  I  would  have  sent  your  mother  word  before," 
said  Robert  Ferguson, "  but  as  the  news  was  bad  I 
thought  it  would  keep.  I  don't  see  what  possessed 
your  father  to  go  out  to  Colorado." 

"  He  was  doing  poorly  here,  and  some  one  rec- 
ommended him  to  try  his  chances  at  the  West." 

"  Well,  he  did  a  foolish  thing.  If  a  man  improves 
his  opportunities  here  he  needn't  wander  away  from 
home  to  earn  a  living.     That's  my  view," 


THE  EEIE  TRAIN  BOY.  23 

"  Then,"  said  Fred  slowly,  "  you  don't  think  the 
land  of  any  value  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't.  Of  course  I  am  sorry  for  your 
disappointment,  and  I  am  going  to  show  it.  Let 
your  mother  make  over  to  me  all  claim  to  this 
land,  and  I  will  give  her  twenty-five  dollars." 

"  That  isn't  much,"  said  Fred  soberly. 

"  No,  it  isn't  much,  but  it's  better  than  nothing, 
and  I  shall  lose  by  my  bargain." 

Fred  sat  in  silence  thinking  over  this  proposal. 
The  land  was  the  only  property  his  poor  father 
had  left,  and  to  sell  it  for  twenty-five  dollars  seemed 
like  parting  with  a  birthright  for  a  mess  of  pottage. 
On  the  other  hand  twenty-five  dollars  would  be  of 
great  service  to  them  under  present  circumstances. 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  say,"  he  answered  slowly. 

"  Oh,  well,  it  is  your  lookout.  I  only  made  the 
offer  as  a  personal  favor." 

Mr.  Ferguson  resumed  the  perusal  of  his  paper, 
and  thus  implied  that  the  interview  was  over. 

"  Cousin  Ferguson,"  said  Fred,  with  an  effort, 
"  our  rent  is  due  to-day,  and  we  are  a  little  short  of 
the  money  to  meet  it.  Could  you  lend  me  three 
dollars  till  Saturday  night  ?  " 

"No,"  answered  Robert  Ferguson  coldly.  "I 
don't  approve  of  borrowing  money.  As  a  matter 
of  principle  I  decline  to  lend.  But  if  your  mother 
agrees  to  sell  the  land  she  shall  have  twenty-five 
dollars  at  once." 

Fred  rose  with  a  heavy  heart. 


24  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  I  will  tell  mother  what  you  propose,"  he  said. 
"Good  evening  ! " 

"  Good  evening !  "  rejoined  Mr.  Ferguson  with* 
out  raising  his  eyes  from  the  paper. 

"  Twenty -five  dollars  would  be  very  acceptable 
just  now,"  said  Mrs.  Fenton  thoughtfully,  when 
Fred  reported  the  offer  of  his  rich  relative. 

"  But  it  wouldn't  last  long,  mother." 

"  It  would  do  us  good  while  it  lasted." 

"You  are  right  there,  mother,  but  I  have  no 
doubt  the  land  is  worth  a  good  deal  more." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  Cousin  Fergu- 
son  " 

"Wouldn't  have  made  the  offer  he  did  if  he 
hadn't  thought  so,  too." 

"  He  might  have  done  it  to  help  us." 

"  He  isn't  that  kind  of  a  man.  No,  mother,  it  is 
for  our  interest  to  hold  on  to  the  land  till  we  know 
more  about  it." 

"  How  shall  we  manage  about  the  rent  ?  " 

Fred  looked  troubled. 

"  Something  may  turn  up  to-morrow.  When  the 
landlord  comes,  ask  him  to  come  again  at  eight 
o'clock,  when  I  shall  be  home." 

"  Very  well,  Fred." 

Mrs.  Fenton  was  so  much  in  the  habit  of  trust* 
ing  to  her  son  that  she  dismissed  the  matter  with 
less  anxiety  than  Fred  felt.  He  knew  very  well 
that  trusting  for  something  to  turn  up  is  a  preca- 
rious dependence,  but  there  seemed  nothing  better 
to  do. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  25 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ZEBULON     MACK. 

At  twelve  that  day  the  landlord,  Zebulon  Mack, 
presented  himself  promptly  at  the  door  of  Mrs. 
Fenton's  room. 

He  was  a  small,  thin,  wrinkled  man,  whose  suit 
would  have  been  refused  as  a  gift  by  the  average 
tramp,  yet  he  had  an  income  of  four  thousand  dol- 
lars a  year  from  rents.  He  was  now  sixty  years  of 
age.  At  twenty-one  he  was  working  for  eight  dol- 
lars a  week,  and  saving  three  fifths  of  that.  By 
slow  degrees  he  had  made  himself  rich,  but  in  so 
doing  he  had  denied  himself  all  but  the  barest 
necessaries.  What  he  expected  to  do  with  his 
money,  as  he  was  a  bachelor  with  no  near  relatives, 
was  a  mystery,  and  he  had  probably  formed  no  defi- 
nite ideas  himself.  But  it  was  his  great  enjoyment 
to  see  his  hoards  annually  increasing,  and  he  had 
no  mercy  for  needy  or  unfortunate  tenants  who 
found  themselves  unable  to  pay  their  rent  promptly. 

Mrs.  Fenton  opened  the  door  with  a  troubled 
look. 

"  I've  come  for  that  other  three  dollars,  ma'am," 
said  Zebulon  Mack,  standing  on  the  threshold. 


26  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  I'm  very  sorry,  sir — "  began  the  widow. 

"  What !  haven't  you  got  the  money  ?  "  snarled 
Mack,  screwing  up  his  features  into  a  frown  that 
made  him  look  even  more  unprepossessing. 

"  My  son  Fred  will  be  paid  on  Saturday  night, 
and  then " 

"  Saturday  night  won't  do.  Didn't  you  promise 
it  to-day  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  and  Fred  tried  to  get  an  advance,  but 
could  not." 

"  Where  is  he  working  ?  " 

"On  the  Erie  road." 

"  Most  likely  he  spends  all  his  money  for  beer 
and  cigarettes.    I  know  him.    He  looks  like  it." 

"  You  are  very  much  mistaken,  sir,"  said  Mrs. 
Fenton,  indignantly. 

"  Oh,  you  think  so,  of  course,"  sneered  the  land- 
lord. "  Mothers  don't  know  much  about  their  boys, 
nor  fathers  either.    I  am  glad  I  haven't  a  son." 

"  I  wouldn't  be  your  son  for  a  million  dollars," 
said  little  Albert,  who  resented  the  allusion  to  his 
big  brother. 

"  Hey  ?  "  snarled  Mack,  opening  his  mouth  and 
showing  his  tobacco-stained  tusks.  "  What  business 
has  a  whipper-snapper  like  you  to  put  in  your  oar  ?  " 

"I  ain't  a  whipper-snapper!"  retorted  Albert, 
who  did  not  know  the  meaning  of  the  word,  but 
concluded  that  it  was  not  complimentary. 

"  Well,  ma'am,  what  are  you  going  to  do  ?  I  can't 
stay  here  all  day." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  '27 

"  Fred  thought  lie  would  have  the  money  by 
to-night.  He  asked  if  you  would  call  round  after 
he  got  home." 

"When  is  that?" 

"  He  generally  gets  home  at  seven  o'clock." 

"  Then  I'll  be  here  at  seven,  but  if  you  haven't 
the  money,  then  out  you  go  !     Do  you  hear?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  mind  you  remember  it.  With  so  many 
swindling  tenants  a  landlord  has  a  hard  time." 

He  shambled  off,  and  Mrs.  Fenton  breathed  a 
sigh  of  temporary  relief.  All  the  afternoon  she 
felt  troubled  and  anxious,  and  her  anxiety  increased 
as  the  hours  wore  away. 

"  If  Fred  should  be  late  as  he  sometimes  is,"  she 
said  to  Bertie  about  six  o'clock,  "  I  am  afraid  Mr. 
Mack  will  carry  out  his  threat  and  turn  us  out  on 
the  street." 

"  I  won't  let  him,"  said  Albert  manfully. 

"  We  can't  help  it."  said  Mrs.  Fenton.  "  Do 
you  think  you  could  find  your  way  to  the  depot  to 
meet  Fred  and  hurry  him  home  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  answered  the  little  boy.  "  I  went 
there  with  Fred  last  week." 

"  You  are  sure  you  won't  get  lost  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  take  me  for,  mother  ?  I'd  be 
ashamed  to   get  lost  anywhere  round  the  city." 

"  Then  go,  and  tell  Fred  to  hurry  up.  Mr.  Mack 
is  so  strict  and  severe  that  I  am  sure  he  won't  wait 
a  minute." 


28  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


At  seven  o'clock  precisely  Mr.  Mack  returned 
and,  looking  at  his  watch,  said,  "  Time's  up,  ma'am." 

"  Wait  just  a  few  minutes ! "  pleaded  Mrs. 
Fenton.     "  I  expect  Fred  home  every  minute." 

"My  time's  valuable,  ma'am.  It  is  not  likely 
the  boy  will  have  the  money  any  way." 

"  Won't  you  wait,  then  ?  " 

"Do  you  take  me  for  a  fool,  ma'am?  Here, 
Finnegan." 

He  had  brought  with  him  a  man  in  his  employ 
who  for  starvation  wages  helped  him  move  out 
tenants,  and  made  himself  useful  in  a  general 
way. 

"  Here  I  am,  Mr.  Mack,"  said  Finnegan. 

"  Just  give  me  a  hand  with  this  bureau.  We'll 
take  that  first." 

"  Oh,  sir,"  pleaded  Mrs.  Fenton,  "  how  can  you  be 
so  merciless  ?  In  a  few  minutes  Fred  will  be  here." 

"  I'm  not  a  fool,  ma'am.  I  told  you  I'd  move 
you  at  seven  o'clock,  and  I'm  a  man  of  my  word." 

"  Wait  a  minute  and  I'll  see  if  I  can  borrow  the 
money  of  Mrs.  Sheehan." 

"  You  ought  to  have  thought  of  that  before. 
I'll  give  you  two  minutes." 

Mrs.  Fenton  sped  down  to  the  rooms  of  Mrs. 
Sheehan  en  the  next  lower  floor. 

"  Can  you  lend  me  three  dollars,  Mrs.  Shee- 
han ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Fenton,  breathless.  "  Mr.  Mack 
threatens  to  turn  us  out  on  the  sidewalk." 

"  I  wish  I  could,  Mrs.  Fenton,"  said  Mrs.  Sheehan 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  29 

heartily,  "  but  I  bought  my  John  a  suit  yesterday, 
and  it's  taken  all  my  money  except  seventy -five 
cents.     I'd  be  glad  to  oblige  you,  indeed  I  would." 

"  I've  no  doubt  of  it,"  sighed  the  widow,  for  it 
was  her  last  hope. 

"  Well,  have  you  got  the  money  ?  "  asked  Zebulon 
Mack,  as  she  reappeared. 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Just  what  I  thought.     Go  ahead,  Finnegan." 

They  took  up  the  bureau  and  slowly  moved  to 
the  door,  and  down  the  staircase  with  it. 

"  It's  a  shame  !  "  said  Mrs.  Sheehan,  standing 
at  her  door. 

"  You'd  better  look  out,  ma'am  !  It  may  be  your 
turn  next,"  said  the  landlord  with  a  scowl.  "  If  it 
is  I  won't  wait  for  you  a  minute." 

"  It's  a  hard  man,  you  are,  Mr.  Mack." 

"  I  need  to  be,"  said  Zebulon  Mack  grimly.  "  If 
I  wasn't  it's  precious  little  rent  I'd  get  in." 

The  outlook  for  the  Fentons  was  dark  indeed. 


30  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  V. 

AN  ADVENTURE  ON  THE  TRAIN. 

Fred  was  on  board  his  regular  train  that  same 
morning  at  the  usual  hour,  and  started  on  his 
round  of  duty.  He  sold  four  morning  papers, 
but  trade  seemed  rather  dull.  About  eleven 
o'clock  he  went  through  the  first  car  distributing 
some  packages  of  candy  to  the  varions  pessengers. 
On  reaching  the  end  of  the  car  he  returned,  collect- 
ing the  money  for  those  purchased,  and  reclaiming 
those  not  wanted. 

About  midway  of  the  car  was  a  man  of  middle 
age,  with  small,  insignificant  features,  and  a  mean 
look.  He  seemed  very  much  absorbed  in  reading 
a  penny  paper  when  the  train  boy  came  up. 

"  Will  you  buy  the  package  of  candy  ?  "  asked 
Fred. 

"  What  package  ?  "  asked  the  passenger,  looking 
up. 

"  The  one  I  left  with  you  when  I  passed  through 
the  car." 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean.  You  left  no 
package  with  me." 

"  I  remember  distinctly  leaving  you  a  package." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  31 

"  You  are  thinking  of  some  other  man." 

"  No,  I  am  not." 

"  You  are  mistaken  ! "  said  the  passenger,  frown- 
ing. 

"  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  get  up  and  let 
me  see  if  it  is  on  the  seat,  or  has  fallen  under- 
neath ?  " 

"  No,  I  won't." 

Fred  was  convinced  that  the  passenger  had 
secreted  the  package,  and  was  scheming  to  cheat 
him  out  of  the  dime.  He  was  a  boy  of  spirit,  and 
he  did  not  propose  to  be  swindled. 

"Sir,"  he  said  in  a  louder  tone,  "I  am  a  poor 
boy  trying  to  earn  an  honest  living.  If  you  don't 
pay  for  this  package  I  shall  have  to." 

"  That  is  none  of  my  business.  I  shall  not  pay 
for  what  I  haven't  got.  Boy,  you  are  very  imper- 
tinent. I  shall  report  you  to  the  president  of  the 
road." 

"  You  may  do  so  if  you  want  to.  I  can't  afford 
to  give  away  my  stock  in  trade." 

"  Boy,"  interposed  a  pompous  gentleman  sitting 
opposite.  "I  quite  agree  with  this  gentleman. 
You  are  not  employed  to  insult  passengers." 

"  Or  to  be  cheated  by  them,"  said  Fred  hotly. 

"If  you  treated  me  in  this  way,  I  would  make  it 
my  business  to  have  you  discharged." 

"Even  if  I  was  right?" 

"  Of  course  you  are  not  right.  This  gentleman's 
word  outweighs  yours." 


32  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Why  should  it  ?  " 

"  He  is  a  respectable  gentleman,  and  you  are 
only  a  poor  train  boy." 

"  That  may  be,  sir,  but  I  always  tell  the  truth." 

"  Like  George  Washington,"  sneered  the  stout 
gentleman. 

Fred  felt  that  he  was  losing  his  case,  and  the 
mean  passenger  smiled  with  satisfaction.  But  his 
triumph  was  short-lived.  The  train  boy  found  an 
unexpected  defender, 

"  The  boy  is  right,"  said  a  young  lady  sitting 
directly  behind  the  passenger  with  whom  Fred 
had  his  difficulty.  "  I  saw  this  man  take  the  pack- 
age and  put  it  in  his  pocket.  I  have  waited  with 
some  curiosity  to  see  whether  he  would  persist  in 
his  attempt  to  cheat  the  boy  out  of  his  money." 

There  was  an  instant  revulsion  of  feeling.  The 
attempted  swindler  looked  as  if  a  bombshell  had 
exploded  at  his  feet. 

"  There  is  some  error,"  he  stammered.  "  The 
young  lady  is  mistaken." 

"  I  am  not  mistaken,"  said  the  }Toung  lady  posi- 
tively. "  If  this  man  will  allow  his  pockets  to  be 
examined,  the  package  will  be  found." 

The  man  rose  from  his  seat,  and  prepared  to 
leave  the  car. 

"  I  ain't  used  to  being  insulted,"  he  said. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  young  lady,  "you  have 
only  to  look  at  this  man's  side  pocket  to  see  that 
it  contains  the  package." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT.  33 

The  passenger  wore  a  sack  coat,  and  it  was  plain 
to  all  that  the  young  lady  was  right. 

"  I  will  pay  for  the  package  if  the  passenger  is 
not  honest  enough  to  do  it  himself." 

"  No,  miss,"  said  a  rough-looking  man  who  looked 
like  a  western  miner.  "  This  man  must  pay,  or 
I'll  pitch  him  out  of  the  car  myself." 

"  I  think  you  had  better  pay,  sir,"  said  the  pom- 
pous looking  man  with  an  air  of  disgust.  "  I  took 
your  part,  because  I  supposed  you  were  a  gentle- 
man." 

The  other,  without  a  word,  drew  out  a  dime 
from  his  pocket  and  handed  it  to  Fred.  Then, 
looking  very  ill  at  ease,  he  left  the  car  hurriedly, 
and  went  as  far  forward  as  possible. 

"  Do  you  have  many  experiences  like  this  ?  " 
asked  the  young  lady,  with  a  smile. 

"  Yes,  miss,  quite  frequently,  "  said  Fred,  "  and 
it  isn't  the  poor  passengers  that  try  to  cheat  me. 
Sometimes  I  travel  on  emigrant  trains,  but  I  never 
lost  a  cent  by  an  emigrant.  It  is  those  who  are 
able  to  pay,  like  this  man,  who  try  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  me." 

"  Do  you  make  good  pay  ?  " 

"  I  average  about  a  dollar  a  day." 

"  I  suppose  that  is  fair  pay  for  a  boy  of  your 
age." 

'*  Yes,  it  is ;  but  I  need  it  all.  I  have  a  mother 
and  brother  to  support." 

"  Have  you,  indeed  ?  "  said  the  young  lady  sym- 


34  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

pathetically.  "  You  can't  all  three  live  on  six 
dollars  a  week." 

"  Mother  earns  a  little  by  sewing,  but  that  isn't 
paid  very  well." 

"  Very  true.  So  you  sometimes  get  into  diffi- 
culties?" 

"  We  are  in  difficulties  now.  The  rent  is  due, 
and  we  lack  three  dollars  to  make  it  up." 

"  That  is  easily  remedied,"  said  the  young  lady. 
"  It  is  my  birthday  to-day,  and  I  shall  allow  my- 
self the  luxury  of  doing  good.  Here  are  five  dol- 
lars which  you  will  use  to  pay  the  landlord." 

"  Thank  you,  miss,"  said  Fred  gladly.  "  You 
have  lifted  a  weight  from  my  mind.  Our  landlord 
is  a  strict  man,  and  I  was  afraid  we  would  be  turned 
out  on  the  street." 

"  Miss,  will  yoa  let  me  shake  hands  with  you  ? 
You're  a  trump  !  " 

It  was  the  western  miner  who  spoke,  and  he  had 
come  forward  impulsively  from  his  seat,  and  was 
extending  a  rough,  sunburned  hand  to  the  young 
lady. 

She  did  not  hesitate  a  moment,  but  with  a  pleas- 
ant smile  placed  her  hand  in  his. 

"  I  wish  all  high-toned  gals  was  like  you,  miss," 
said  the  miner,  as  he  shook  her  hand  heartily. 

"  I  am  sure  you  would  do  the  same  sir,"  said 
Isabel  Archer. 

"  Yes,  I  would,  and  I  meant  to  if  you  hadn't  got 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  35 

the  start  of  me.     You'll  excuse  the  liberty  I  took," 
said  the  miner. 

"  Oh,  yes,  certainly." 

"  I'm  a  rough  miner,  but " 

"  You  are  a  kind-hearted  man.  You  may  here- 
after have  it  in  your  power  to  help  the  boy." 

"  So  I  can,"  and  the  miner  retreated  to  his  seat. 

Arrived  at  the  Erie  depot,  Fred  found  his  little 
brother  waiting  for  him. 

"  Oh,  Fred,"  he  said,  "  I  hope  you've  got  money 
for  the  rent.  The  landlord  said  he  would  turn  us 
out  at  seven  o'clock  if  we  didn't  pay." 

"  And  I  am  a  little  late,"  said  Fred,  anxiously. 

"  Let  me  go  with  you  !  "  said  the  miner.  "  I 
want  to  see  what  sort  of  a  critter  your  landlord  is. 
The  mean  scoundrel !  It  would  do  me  good  to 
shake  him  out  of  his  boots." 

Zebulon  Mack  and  his  assistanthad  just  succeeded 
in  placing  the  bureau  on  the  sidewalk  when  Fred 
and  his  mining  friend  turned  the  corner  of  the 
street. 

"  There's  mother's  bureau  !  "  exclaimed  Fred  in 
excitement.     "  He's  begun  to  move  us  out." 

"  He  has,  hey  ?  "  said  Sloan  the  miner.  "  We'll 
soon  stop  that." 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  "  demanded  Fred, 
hurrying  up. 

Zebulon   Mack    turned  round,  and   eyed   the 
train  boy  with  an  ugly  frown. 


36  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"  I  told  your  mother  I'd  move  her  out,  and  I've 
done  it." 

"Why  didn't  you  wait  for  me?  I've  got  the 
money." 

"You  have?" 

"  Yes,  I  have." 

"  Pay  it  over,  then." 

Fred  was  about  to  do  so  when  the  miner  in- 
terposed. 

"  Don't  pay  him  till  he  carries  back  the  bureau  !  " 
said  Sloan. 

"  You  and  your  friend  can  do  that ! "  said  the 
landlord. 

"If  you  don't  catch  hold  of  that  bureau  and 
take  it  back  I'll  wring  -your  neck,  you  mean 
scoundrel ! "  said  the  miner  sternly. 

Zebulon  Mack  looked  into  the  miner's  face  and 
thought  it  wisest  to  obey. 

"  Here,  Finnegan  !  "  he  said  sullenly.  "  Take 
hold,  and  don't  be  all  night  about  it." 

When  the  bureau  was  in  place,  Fred,  who  had 
changed  the  five  dollar  bill,  handed  Mr.  Mack  the 
three  dollars. 

"  Now,  my  friend,"  said  the  miner,  "  you  can 
reckon  up  how  much  you  made  by  your  meanness. 
You  and  that  understrapper  of  yours  must  enjoy 
moving  bureaus.  I  only  wish  you'd  got  down 
the  rest  of  the  furniture,  so  that  I  might  have  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  you  carry  it  back." 

The  landlord  glared  at  Tom  Sloan  as  if  he  would 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT.  37 

like  to  tear  him  to  pieces.  But  he  took  it  out 
in  looks. 

"  Good  night,  sir,"  said  the  miner,  "  we  don't 
care  to  have  the  pleasure  of  your  company  any 
longer." 

"  I'll  be  even  with  you  all  for  this,"  growled 
Mack. 

"  Don't  feel  bad,  squire.  You've  got  your 
money." 

"Mother,"  said  Fred,  "this  is  my  friend,  Mr. 
Sloan." 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  any  friend  of  my  boy,"  said 
Mrs.  Fenton.  "  Won't  you  stay  and  take  supper 
with  Fred  ?  " 

"  I'd  like  to,  ma'am,  if  it  won't  be  intruding." 

"  Not  at  all,"  said  Fred  cordially.  "  I've  had 
luck  to-day,  mother.  A  beautiful  young  lady  gave 
me  five  dollars." 

"  God  bless  her ! "  said  Mrs.  Fenton.  "  She 
couldn't  have  given  it  at  a  better  time." 


38  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MR.  BASCOM'S  PEEIL. 

Tom  Sloan  made  himself  very  much  at  home 
with  the  Fentons.  The  widow  sent  out  for  a 
steak,  and  this,  with  a  cup  of  tea  and  some  fresh 
rolls,  furnished  a  plain  but  excellent  repast. 

"  I  haven't  eaten  so  good  a  supper  for  a  long 
time,"  said  the  miner.  "It  seems  just  like  the 
suppers  I  used  to  get  at  home  in  Vermont." 

"It  was  very  plain,"  said  Mrs.  Fenton,  "but 
probably  you  had  a  good  appetite." 

"  You  are  right  there,  ma'am." 

Mr.  Sloan  remained  chatting  for  a  couple  for 
hours.  He  told  his  new  friends  that  he  had  been 
away  two  years,  spending  the  time  in  Nevada  and 
California. 

"  I  hope  you  have  had  good  luck,  Mr.  Sloan," 
said  Fred. 

"  Yes,  I've  made  a  few  thousand  dollars,  but 
I'm  going  back  again  next  month." 

"To  California?" 

"  No,  to  Colorado." 

Fred  and  his  mother  exchanged  looks. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  39 

"My  father  left  us  some  land  in  Colorado," 
said  the  train  boy — "  a  hundred  and  twenty-five 
acres — but  we  can't  find  out  whether  it  has  any 
value  or  not." 

"  Let  me  know  where  it  is,"  said  the  miner, 
"and  I'll  find  out  and  send  you  word." 

"  Thank  you  !  It  will  be  a  great  favor,"  said 
Mrs.  Fenton  warmly.  "  A  cousin  of  my  husband 
went  out  there  three  months  since,  and  visited  the 
land.  He  reports  that  it  is  of  no  value,  but 
offers  to  buy  it  for  twenty-five  dollars.  Fred  thinks 
he  wouldn't  make  the  offer  if  it  was  not  worth  a 
good  deal  more." 

"  That's  where  Fred's  head  is  level.  Depend 
upon  it  your  cousin  is  foxy  and  wants  to  take  you 
in.     I'll  tell  you  just  how  the  matter  stands." 

Mrs.  Fenton  produced  her  husband's  papers,  and 
Mr.  Sloan  made  an  entry  of  the  location  in  a  small 
note  book  which  he  carried. 

"Don't  worry  about  it  any  more,  ma'am,"  he 
said.  "  I'll  do  all  I  can  for  you,  and  I  hope  for 
your  sake  there's  a  gold  mine  on  the  land." 

Mrs.  Fenton  smiled. 

"  I  shall  be  satisfied  with  less  than  that,"  she 
answered. 

"  How  long  are  you  going  to  stay  in  New  York  ?  " 
asked  Fred. 

"  I  am  going  to  Vermont  to-morrow,  and,  likely 
as  not  I  shan't  come  back  this  way,  but  go  West 
from  Boston.     Anyway  you'll  hear  from  me  oc- 


40  TBE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

casionally.  I  ain't  much  of  a  writer,  but  I  guess 
you  can  make  out  my  pot-hooks." 

"  I'll  take  the  risk,  Mr.  Sloan,"  said  Fred.  "  I 
am  no  writing  master  mj^self,  but  my  little  brother 
Albert  can  draw  nicely,  and  writes  a  handsome 
hand.     Bertie,  bring  your  last  writing  book." 

The  little  boy  did  so,  and  exhibited  it  to  the 
miner. 

"  Why,  the  kid  beats  my  old  teacher  all  hollow," 
said  Sloan.  "  I've  a  great  mind  to  take  him  with 
me  to  Vermont,  and  have  him  start  a  writing 
school." 

"  I'm  afraid  Albert  couldn't  keep  order  among 
the  big  boys." 

"  Well,  there  might  be  some  trouble  that  way. 
How  much  do  you  weigh,  kid  ?  " 

"  Ninety  pounds,"  answered  Albert. 

"  Well,  that  isn't  exactly  a  heavy  weight.  But, 
Fred,  I  must  be  going  out  and  finding  a  room 
somewhere.     Do  you  know  of  any  good  place?" 

"  There's  a  hotel  close  by.     I'll  go  with  you." 

"Good  evening,  ma'am,"  said  the  miner,  as  he 
rose  to  go.  "  I  may  not  see  you  again  just  at  pres- 
ent, but  I'll  look  after  that  business  of  yourn. 
Come  here,  kid,  you  ought  to  get  a  prize  for  your 
writing.  Here's  something  for  you,"  and  he  handed 
the  delighted  boy  a  five  dollar  gold  piece. 

"  Oh,  ma,  now  may  I  have  a  new  suit?"  asked 
Albert. 

"  If  you  want  a  new  suit,"  said  the  miner,  "  I 


TEE  ETtTE  TTtAIN  BOY.  41 

haven't  given  you  enough.  Here's  another  five  to 
help  along." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Fenton. 
"  Albert  is  really  in  need  of  clothes,  and  this  will 
buy  him  something  more  than  a  suit." 

"  All  the  better,  ma'am.  I'm  glad  to  have  the 
chance  of  doing  a  little  good  with  my  money." 

"I  wish  all  who  have  money  were  like  you.  I 
wish  you  health  and  good  fortune,  and  a  safe 
return  to  your  friends." 

"  Those  are  three  good  things,  ma'am.  If  I  get 
there  I  won't  kick." 

"  Do  you  ever  kick?  "  asked  Albert,  puzzled. 

"  I  see  you  don't  understand  me,  kid.  It's  a 
slang  term  we  miners  use.  I  won't  complain. 
That's  a  little  better  English,  isn't  it  ?  " 

Fred  conducted  Mr.  Sloan  to  the  hotel  near  by 
and  saw  him  secure  a  good  room.  Then  he  was 
about  to  retire. 

"  Hold  on  a  minute  !  "  said  the  miner.  "  Come 
up  to  my  room.  I  want  to  talk  a  little  to  you  on 
business." 

"  Certainly,  Mr.  Sloan." 

Reaching  the  chamber,  the  miner  unbuckled  a 
belt  that  spanned  his  waist,  and  drew  therefrom  a 
large  sum  in  gold  pieces.  He  counted  out  five 
double  eagles — a  hundred  dollars — and  turning:  to 
Fred,  said :  "  I  want  you  to  keep  that  money  for 
me  till  I  come  back." 

"  But,  Mr.  Sloan,"  said  Fred  surprised,  "  why 


42  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

not  leave  it  with  your  other  money  ?     I  might  lose 
it." 

"  I  want  you  to  put  it  in  some  savings  bank  in 
your  own  name,  and,  if  you  need  it,  to  draw  out 
any  part  of  it.  I  don't  want  that  mean  scamp, 
the  landlord,  to  get  a  chance  to  turn  you  out  into 
the  street." 

"  But  I  might  not  be  able  to  pay  it  back,  Mr. 
Sloan." 

"  I'll  take  the  risk.  I  lend  it  to  you  without 
interest  for  a  year,  and  if  you  have  to  use  any  of 
it  I  won't  sue  you." 

"  You  are  very  kind  !  It  will  make  me  feel 
much  more  easy  in  mind.  I  wouldn't  mind  being 
turned  into  the  street  on  my  own  account,  but 
mother  couldn't  stand  it." 

"  Just  so,  Fred.  You've  got  a  good  mother,  and 
you  must  look  out  for  her." 

"  I  don't  often  meet  a  good  friend  like  you,  Mr. 
Sloan." 

"  Oh,  pshaw!  you  mustn't  make  too  much  of  a 
little  thing,"  said  the  miner  modestly.  "  I'm  only 
giving  you  the  interest  on  a  hundred  dollars." 

Fred  walked  slowly  homeward,  feeling  very 
cheerful.  He  hoped  he  should  not  need  to  use  any 
of  Mr.  Sloan's  kind  loan,  but  it  gave  him  a  feeling 
of  relief  to  know  that  he  had  a  fund  to  draw  from 
in  case  of  need. 

On  his  way  home,  in  passing  a  drinking  saloon, 
Fred's  attention  was  drawn  to  two  men  who  came 


THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY.  43 

out,  arm  in  arm,  both  of  whom  appeared  to  be 
under  the  influence  of  liquor.  Something  in  the 
dress  and  figure  of  one  looked  familiar.  Coming 
closer  Fred  recognized  his  country  friend,  Joshua 
Bascom. 

"  What,  Mr.  Bascom  !     Is  this  you  ?  " 

"  Why,  it's  Fred  !  "  said  Bascom  stopping  short 
and  trying  to  stand  erect. 

"Oh,  come  along!"  said  his  companion  impa- 
tiently. 

"  No,  I  want  to  see  the  train  boy.  Good-night 
old  fellow!" 

The  other  angrily  protested  against  being  shaken 
off,  but  Joshua  dropped  his  arm,  and  took  Fred's 
instead. 

"  How  came  you  with  that  man  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  He's  a  jolly,  sociable  chap.  Wanted  to  take 
me  to  a  little  card  party,  but  I  guess  it's  too  late." 

"  Did  he  meet  you  in  the  saloon  ?  " 

"  No ;  he  took  me  in  there,  and  treated  me 
to  three  glasses  of  milk  punch.  I  guess  it's  got 
into  my  head.  Do  you  think  I  am — intoxicated, 
Fred?" 

"  It  looks  very  much  like  it,  Mr.  Bascom." 

"  I  hope  they  won't  hear  of  it  at  home.  Dad 
would  get  the  minister  to  come  and  give  me  a  talkin' 
to." 

"I  hope  this  stranger  didn't  get  any  of  your 
money  ?  " 

"  No ;  he  wouldn't  let  me  pay  for  a  thing." 


44  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  He  meant  to  get  the  money  back.  He  was  car- 
rying you  to  some  gambling  house,  where  he  would 
have  won  all  your  money." 

"  You  don't  say  ? '  exclaimed  Joshua,  panic- 
stricken.     "  I  thought  he  was  a  nice  fellow." 

"Be  careful  how  you  trust  strangers,  and  don't 
go  to  any  more  drinking  saloons  !  " 

"  I  won't,"  said  Mr.  Bascom,  fervently. 

"I  will  take  you  to  your  room,  and  you  had 
better  take  a  good  long  sleep.  If  you  want  to  go 
round,  I'll  call  to-morrow  evening,  and  go  to  some 
place  of  amusement  with  you." 

"  I  think  Mr.  Bascom  had  better  go  back  to  his 
farm  soon,"  thought  Fred,  as  he  returned  from 
piloting  Joshua  home.  "If  he  doesn't  he  is  likely 
to  get  into  trouble." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  45 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FERDINAND  MORRIS. 

When  Ferdinand  Morris  left  the  train  after 
robbing  Joshua  Bascom,  as  described  in  the  first 
chapter,  he  was  in  excellent  spirits.  He  had 
effected  his  purpose,  and  got  off  scot  free.  He 
walked  briskly  away  from  the  station  at  which  he 
got  out,  and  didn't  stop  to  examine  the  wallet  till 
he  had  got  half  a  mile  away." 

When  he  discovered  that  it  contained  only  ten 
dollars,  he  was  filled  with  disgust. 

"  What  could  the  fellow  mean  by  coming  to  the 
city  with  only  ten  dollars  in  his  pocket-book?" 
he  muttered.  "It's  a  regular  imposition.  It  wasn't 
worth  taking.  Here  I  am,  stranded  in  the  country, 
and  my  ticket  of  no  value,  for  only  ten  dollars  !  I 
should  like  to  see  my  rural  friend's  woe-begone  look 
when  he  discovers  the  loss  of  his   wallet,  though." 

This  thought  helped  to  reconcile  Morris  to  the 
situation.  The  picture  which  he  had  conjured  up 
tickled  his  fancy,  and  he  laughed  heartily.  But 
his  merriment  was  short-lived.  Incidentally  he 
noticed  the  loss  of  the  ring,  and  his  countenance 
changed. 


46  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  My  ring  gone  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  What  can 
have  become  of  it  ?  It  was  worth  fifty  dollars  at 
least.  I  must  have  dropped  it  into  that  fellow's 
pocket  when  I  took  his  wallet.  That's  a  pretty 
bad  exchange.  What  an  unlucky  chap  I  am  !  I 
am  about  forty  dollars  out  of  pocket." 

The  satisfaction  of  Mr.  Morris  was  quite  de- 
stroyed. There  seemed  little  hope  of  his  recover- 
ing the  ring,  for  he  could  not  make  known  its  loss 
without  betraying  himself. 

"  I  may  as  well  be  going  back  to  New  York,"  he 
said  moodily.  "  If  I  meet  that  fellow  again,  I 
must  get  up  some  scheme  for  recovering  the  ring 
from  him.  He  is  a  countryman  and  I  can  frighten 
him  into  giving  it  to  me.  The  worst  of  it  is,  the 
ring  is  not  mine,  and  the  owner  will  make  a  fuss 
about  it.  She  is  inclined  to  be  suspicious,  and  I 
shall  find  it  hard  work  to  explain." 

In  a  house  on  Lexington  Avenue  lived  a  maiden 
lady,  close  upon  forty  years  of  age,  though  she 
called  herself  thirty-one.  Miss  Josephine  Marden 
had  been  left  independent  through  the  will  of  an 
aunt  who  had  left  her  the  sum  of  thirty  five  thou- 
sand dollars.  She  had  been  for  eight  years  an 
humble  attendant,  subject  to  the  numerous  whims 
and  caprices  of  her  relative,  but  two  years  since 
had  been  repaid  by  a  legacy.  Ever  since  Miss 
Marden  had  been  looking  about  for  a  suitable  matr 
rimonial  partner.  There  were  some  difficulties  in 
the  way,  for  she  was  thin,  long  nosed,  and  with  a 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  47 

yellow  complexion.  Three  impecunious  bachelors, 
lured  by  her  money,  had  paid  her  some  attentions, 
but  their  courage  failed  at  last,  and  they  silently 
slunk  away.  At  length,  however,  Ferdinand  Morris 
met  Miss  Marden,  and  conceived  the  idea  of  mar- 
rying her  for  her  money.  When  he  had  once  got 
possession  of  her  fortune,  he  proposed  to  leave  her 
in  the  lurch. 

Morris  was  a  stylish-looking  man,  and  the  spin- 
ster received  his  attentions  very  favorably.  She 
knew  very  little  about  him  except  that  he  was  in 
some  mysterious  business  about  which  he  did  not 
speak  definitely,  except  that  it  required  him  to 
travel  constantly.  Matters  progressed  until  they 
became  engaged.  At  this  point,  rather  reversing 
the  usual  order  of  things,  Miss  Marden  gave  her 
suitor  the  ring  which  he  had  now  lost. 

"  If  we  don't  marry,"  she  said  cautiously,  "  I  shall 
expect  you  to  give  it  back." 

"Certainly,  my  dear  Josephine,"  said  Morris, 
"  but  I  shall  hold  you  to  your  promise." 

"  You  might  see  some  girl  younger  and  fair," 
said  Miss  Marden  coyly. 

"  How  could  that  be  ?  "  said  Morris  with  mock 
ardor,  as  he  bent  over  her  hand  and  kissed  it  with 
secret  facial  contortions.  "  Do  you  doubt  my 
love?" 

"  I  try  not  to,  Ferdinand,  but  I  am  no  longer  in 
my  first  youth.  I  shudder  to  say  it — I  am  twenty- 
nine." 


48  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  You  were  two  years  older  last  week,"  thought 
Morris. 

"  I — I  don't  feel  so  old,"  said  the  spinster,  "  but 
I  am  afraid  it  is  a  fact." 

"  I  don't  believe  you  will  ever  be  forty  again," 
thought  Morris,  "  By  the  way,  Josephine,  have  you 
thought  of  that  investment  I  spoke  to  3-ou  about  ? 
I  can  get  a  hundred  shares  of  mining  stock  for  you, 
at  five  dollars  a  share — the  inside  price — while  to 
the  general  public  it  is  only  sold  at  ten." 

"  It  may  be  as  you  say,  Ferdinand,  but  my  aunt 
lost  money  in  mining  stocks,  and  I  shall  hardly 
dare  to  venture." 

"  Confound  your  aunt !  "  said  Morris  to  himself. 
"  I  assure  you,  Josephine,  this  is  a  chance  to 
double  your  money  in  three  mouths." 

"  Have  you  invested  in  it  yourself,  Ferdinand?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  answered  Morris,  glibly,  "  I  have  a 
hundred  and  fifty  shares." 

Suspicious  as  she  was,  Miss  Morris  believed  her 
suitor  to  be  a  man  of  means,  and  did  not  doubt  his 
statement. 

"  Then  I  hope  for  your  sake  it  will  prove  a  good 
investment." 

"  Confound  her  !  "  thought  Morris,  "  there  seems 
no  chance  to  make  her  open  her  purse  strings. 
She  has  got  to  come  down  liberally,  or  I  won't 
marry  her." 

It  was  at  Miss  Marden's  door  that  Ferdinand 
Morris  rang  on  the  evening  after  the  loss  of  the 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  49 

ring.  He  would  have  kept  away,  but  lie  had  prom- 
ised to  call,  and  Miss  Morris  was  very  strict  in 
requiring  him  to  keep  his  engagements. 

He  had  hardly  entered  the  room  when  she  dis- 
covered the  loss  of  the  ring. 

"What  has  become  of  the  ring,  Ferdinand?" 
she  asked  quickly. 

"  I  thought  you  would  miss  it,"  he  replied  in 
some  confusion. 

"Where  is  it?"  asked  Miss  Marden  peremp- 
torily. 

"  Plague  take  the  old  cat !  "  thought  Morris.  "  I 
suppose  I  may  as  well  tell  the  truth." 

"  The  fact  is,"  he  stammered,  "  it  was  stolen 
from  me  on  an  Erie  train  to-day  by  a  pickpocket." 

"  And  you  let  him  do  it?  What  could  you  be 
thinking  of,  Ferdinand  ?  " 

"  You  have  no  idea  how  expert  these  fellows  are, 
Josephine,"  said  Morris,  who  certainly  ought  to 
know. 

"  I  think  a  man  must  be  inexcusably  careless  or 
simple,"  returned  the  spinster,  "  to  allow  a  man  to 
steal  a  ring  from  his  finger.  Do  you  suspect  any- 
body ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  sat  beside  a  young  man  dressed  up  as 
a  countryman.  He  was  such  a  good  imitation,  that 
I  was  positively  taken  in.  He  looked  as  if  he  had 
been  driving  the  plow  all  his  life." 

"  And  lie  stole  the  ring  ?  " 
4 


50  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  He  must  have  done  it.  There  was  no  one  else 
near  who  had  the  chance." 

"  But  how  could  he  slip  it  off  your  finger  with- 
out your  knowing  it  ?  " 

"  The  fact  is,  I  fell  into  a  doze,  and  when  I  was 
half  asleep  the  ring  was  taken.  After  he  had  got 
it  he  got  out  at  some  station,  and  I  am  afraid  I 
never  shall  see  him  again." 

"  I  am  not  satisfied  with  your  explanation,  Fer- 
dinand." 

"You  don't  mean  to  say  you  doubt  my  word, 
Josephine  ?  " 

"  I  paid  fifty  dollars  for  that  ring  at  a  jeweler's 
on  Sixth  Avenue,  and  I  don't  feel  like  losing  so 
much  money." 

"  But  it  is  my  loss,  as  you  gave  it  to  me." 

"  You  forget  that  in  case  our  engagement  was 
broken,  it  was  to  be  returned." 

"  But  you  really  don't  think  of  breaking  the 
engagement?  You  don't  want  to  drive  me  to 
despair  ?  " 

"  Do  you  really  love  me  so  much,  Ferdinand  ?  " 
said  the  spinster,  smiling  complacently. 

"  Can  you  doubt  it?  It  makes  me  very  unhappy 
to  have  you  find  fault  with  me." 

"  But  you  must  admit  that  you  were  very  care- 
less." 

"  I  confess  it,  but  the  man  looked  so  innocent." 

"  Do  you  think  you  shall  ever  meet  him  again?" 

"  I  think  so.     He  may  be  in  another  disguise." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  SOY.  51 

"  I  will  give  you  four  weeks  to  do  so,  Ferdi- 
nand. If  you  don't  succeed  I  shall  require  you  to 
buy  another  in  its  place." 

"  I  will  do  my  best,"  said  Morris. 

"  I  really  thought  you  were  sharper,  Ferdinand, 
No  pickpocket  could  rob  me." 

"I  may  try  it  some  time,"  thought  Morris.  "  It 
would  be  rather  a  satisfaction  to  do  it  too." 

"  I  wonder  if  I  shall  meet  that  country  fellow 
again,"  thought  Morris  as  he  left  the  house.  "  If 
do  I'll  see  if  I  can't  frighten  him  into  returning 
my  ring." 

The  very  next  evening,  in  passing  the  Standard 
Theater,  near  the  corner  of  Thirty-Third  Street 
Morris  saw  and  instantly  recognized  the  tall,  rustic 
figure  and  slouching  walk  of  Joshua  Bascom.  He 
caused  a  moment  in  indecision,  then  summoning 
up  all  his  native  bravado,  he  stepped  forward,  and 
laid  his  hand  on  Joshua's  shoulder. 

"  Look  here,  my  friend,"  he  said  in  tone  of  au- 
thority, "  I  have  some  business  with  you." 


52  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MR.  BASCOM'S  SAD  PLIGHT. 

Joshua  turned  in  alarm,  fearing  that  he  was 
in  the  hands  of  a  policeman. 

"  What  have  I  done  ?  "  he  began.  Then  recog- 
nizing Morris,  he  said,  "  Why  it's  the  man  who 
stole  my  wallet." 

"  You  must  be  crazy,"  rejoined  Morris.  "  1 
charge  you  with  theft." 

"  Well,  that  beats  all ! "  ejaculated  Joshua. 
"  J  ust  give  me  back  my  ten  dollars." 

"  I  admire  your  cheek,  my  friend,"  said  Morris, 
"bat  it  won't  go  down.  Where  is  that  ring  you 
stole  from  my  finger  ?  " 

"  You  left  it  in  my  pocket  when  you  put  in 
your  hand  and  stole  my  wallet." 

"  Ha,  you  confess  that  you  have  got  it.  Where 
is  it?" 

"  Give  me  back  my  wallet  and  I  may  tell  you." 

"  My  rural  friend  you  are  in  great  danger.  Do 
you  see  that  policeman  coming  up  the  street? 
Well,  I  propose  to  give  you  in  charge  unless  you 
give  me  back  my  ring." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT.  53 

"  I  haven't  got  it,"  said  Joshua,  beginning  to 
feel  uneasy. 

"  Then  give  me  fifty  dollars,  the  sum  I  paid  for 
it." 

"  Gosh  all  hemlock  !  "  exclaimed  Joshua  impa- 
tiently. "  You  talk  as  if  I  was  a  thief  instead  of 
you." 

"So  you  are." 

"It's  a  lie." 

"Of  course  you  say  so.  If  you  haven't  fifty 
dollars,  give  me  all  you  have,  and  I'll  let  you  off." 

"I  won't  do  it." 

"  Then  you  must  take  the  consequences.  Here, 
policeman,  I  give  this  man  in  charge  for  stealing 
a  valuable  ring  from  me." 

"  When  did  he  do  it — just  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Morris,  with  unexpected  au- 
dacity. "  He  looks  like  a  countryman  but  he  is  a 
crook  in  disguise." 

"  Come  along,  my  man  !  "  said  the  policeman, 
taking  Joshua  in  tow.     You  must  come  with  me." 

"  I  hain't  done  nothing,"  said  Joshua.  "  Please 
let  me  go,  Mr.  Policeman." 

"  That's  what  they  all  say,"  remarked  Morris, 
shrugging  his  shoulders. 

"I  see,  he's  an  old  offender,"  said  the  intelligent 
policeman,  who  had  only  been  on  the  force  three 
months. 

"  He's  one  of  the  most  artful  crooks  I  ever  met," 
said  Morris.     "  You'd  swear  he  was  a  countryman." 


54  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  So  I  be,"  insisted  Joshua.  "  I  came  from  Bar- 
ton, up  Elmira  way,  and  I've  never  been  in  the 
city  before." 

"  Hear  him  ! "  said  Morris,  laughing  heartily. 
"  Ask  him  his  name." 

"My  name's  Joshua  Bascom,  and  I  go  to  the 
Baptist  church  reg'lar — just  write  and  ask  Parson 
Peabody,  and  he'll  tell  you  I'm  perfectly  respect- 
able."  * 

"My  friend,"  said  Morris,  "you  can't  fool  an 
experienced  officer  by  any  such  rigmarole.  He 
can  read  you  like  a  book." 

"Of  course  I  can,"  said  the  policeman,  who  felt 
the  more  flattered  by  this  tribute  because  he  was 
really  a  novice.  "  As  this  gentleman  says,  I  knew 
you  to  be  a  crook  the  moment  I  set  eyes  on  you." 

They  turned  the  corner  of  Thirtieth  Street  on 
their  way  to  the  station  house.  Poor  Joshua  felt 
keenly  the  humiliation  and  disgrace  of  his  position. 
It  would  be  in  all  the  papers,  he  had  no  doubt,  for 
all  such  items  got  into  the  home  papers,  and  he 
would  not  dare  show  his  face  in  Barton  again. 

"Am  I  going  to  jail?"  he  asked  with  keen 
anguish. 

"  You'll  land  there  shortly,"  said  Morris. 

"  But  I  hain't  done  a  thing." 

"  Is  it  necessary  for  me  to  go  in  ?  "  asked  Fer- 
dinand Morris,  with  considerable  uneasiness,  for 
he  feared  to  be  recognized  by  some  older  member 
of  the  force. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  55 

"Certainly,"  replied  the  policeman,  "-you  must 
enter  a  complaint  against  this  man." 

Morris  peered  into  the  station  house,  but  saw 
no  officer  likely  to  remember  him,  so  he  summoned 
up  all  his  audacity  and  followed  the  policeman  and 
his  prisoner  inside.  There  happened  to  be  no  other 
case  ahead,  so  Joshua  was  brought  forward. 

"  What  has  this  man  done  ?  "  asked  the  sergeant. 

"Stolen  a  ring  from  this  gentleman  here," 
answered  the  policeman. 

"  Was  the  ring  found  on  his  person  ?  " 

"  No,  sergeant.     He  has  not  been  searched." 

"  Search  me  if  you  want  to.  You  won't  find  any- 
thing," said  Joshua. 

"  He  has  probably  thrown  it  away,"  said  Ferdi- 
nand Morris,  sotto  voce. 

"No,  I  hain't." 

"  What  is  your  name,  sir  ?  "  asked  the  sergeant, 
addressing  Morris. 

"  My  name  is  Clarence  Hale,"  answered  Morris, 
boldly,  taking  the  name  of  a  young  man  of  respect- 
able family  whom  he  had  met  casually. 

"  Where  do  you  live  ?  " 

"  On  Fourth  Avenue,  sir,  near  Eleventh  Street." 

"  Do  you  swear  that  this  man  stole  your  ring  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Where?" 

"  In  front  of  the  Standard  Theater." 

"  How  could  he  do  it?  "  continued  the  sergeant. 
"  He  could  not  take  it  from  your  hand?  " 


56  TSE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  It  was  in  my  pocket.  I  found  him  with  his 
hand  in  my  pocket,"  answerd  Morris,  glibly. 

"  By  gracious  ! "  ejaculated  Joshua,  his  eyes  dis- 
tended with  amazement,  "  I  never  heard  a  fellow 
lie  so  slick  before,  in  all  my  life." 

"  Silence ! "  said  the  sergeant.  "  Mr.  Hale,  will 
you  appear  to-morrow  morning  at  Jefferson  Market, 
and  testify  against  this  man  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Officer,  have  you  ever  arrested  this  man  be- 
fore ?  "  went  on  the  sergeant. 

"  I'm  not  quite  sure,  sir.  You  see  he's  in  disguise 
now.     I  think  he's  wan  of  the  gang." 

Things  began  to  look  bad  for  poor  Joshua,  who 
was  in  a  fair  way  to  be  railroaded  to  the  penitentiary, 
as  no  doubt  more  than  one  innocent  man  has  been 
before  now,  through  an  unfortunate  complication. 

"  I  wish  I  had  some  friend  to  speak  up  for  me," 
he  said,  almost  sobbing.     "  This  is  awful !  " 

"So  you  have!  "  said  an  unexpected  voice. 

Joshua  turned,  and  to  his  inexpressible  relief  saw 
Fred  standing  on  the  threshold. 

"It's  the  train  boy  !  "  he  exclaimed  joyfully. 

Fred  had  set  out  to  call  upon  Joshua  that  even- 
ing, and  had  chanced  to  see  him  going  into  the 
station  house  with  the  confidence  man.  He  had 
followed  to  find  out  what  it  meant. 

There  was  one  who  was  not  so  well  pleased  to 
see  him.  Ferdinand  Morris  turned  pale,  and  tried 
to  make  his  escape. 


TBE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  57 

"  Excuse  me,"  he  said.  "  I  am  faint,  and  must 
get  out  into  the  air." 

But  Fred  stood  in  his  way. 

"  Not  so  fast,  Mr.  Ferdinand  Morris,"  he  said. 
"  What  trick  are  you  up  to  now  ?  " 

"  Do  you  know  this  man,  Fred  ? "  asked  the 
sergeant,  who  had  known  the  train  boy  for  three 
years,  for  he  lived  only  one  block  away  on  the  same 
street. 

"  Yes,  sir,  he  stole  the  wallet  of  this  young  man 
on  my  train  on  the  Erie  less  than  a  week  since." 

"  But  he  said  the  prisoner  stole  his  ring." 

"  He  left  the  ring  in  Mr.  Bascom's  pocket,  when 
he  was  feeling  for  the  wallet." 

"  This  is  a  great  mistake,"  said  Morris,  hurriedly. 
"I  never  saw  this  train  boy  before,  and  haven't 
traveled  on  the  Erie  road  for  a  year." 

"  This  man  is  telling  a  falsehood,"  said  Fred. 

"  Will  you  swear  that  he  was  on  your  train  and 
robbed  this  countryman?"  asked  the  sergeant. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Is  there  any  officer  who  recognizes  him  ?  "  the 
sargeant  inquired,  looking  round  the  room. 

"  I  do,"  answered  a  stout  policeman,  who  just 
then  entered  the  station  house.  "  I  arrested  him 
six  months  since,  but  he  managed  to  slip  away." 

"  The  prisoner  is  discharged,"  said  the  sergeant. 
*'  Hold  the  complainant  instead." 

To  his  great  joy.  Joshua  was  set  free,  and  Mr. 


58  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

Morris,  alias  Hale,  was  collared  by  a  policeman, 
though  he  made  a  desperate  struggle  to  escape. 

"  I'll  get  even  with  you,  boy  ! "  said  Morris  sav- 
agely, addressing  Fred. 

"  Come  along,  Mr.  Bascom,"  said  Fred.  "  I  pre- 
sume you  don't  care  to  stay  here  any  longer." 

"  Not  if  I  know  it, "  said  Joshua,  fervently.  "  If 
I  live  till  to-morrow  morning,  I'll  start  back  to 
Barton.  I've  seen  all  I  want  to  of  York.  I  won't 
feel  safe  till  I  get  home,  in  sight  of  the  old  meetin' 
house.  I  wouldn't  have  dad  know  I'd  been  arrested 
for  a  load  of  pumpkins." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  59 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A  LONG  TRIP. 

When  Fred  appeared  at  the  depot  the  next  morn- 
ing the  superintendent  said  to  him,  "I  shall  have 
to  change  your  train  to-day.  You  will  wait  for  the 
nine  o'clock  train  for  Suspension  Bridge." 

"  When  shall  I  get  there  ?  " 

The  superintendent,  referring  to  his  schedule  of 
trains,  answered,  "At  11.44  to-night.  The  boy 
who  usually  goes  on  this  train  is  sick." 

"  When  shall  I  return  ?  " 

"  Let  me  see,  it  is  Saturday.  If  you  would  like 
to  stay  over  a  day  and  see  Niagara  Falls,  you  can 
do  so,  and  start  on  your  return  Monday  morning 
at  8.35.     How  do  you  like  the  arrangement?" 

"  Very  much.  I  was  only  thinking  how  I  could 
get  word  to  my  mother.  She  will  feel  anxious  if  I 
am  not  back  at  the  usual  time." 

"  You  might  send  her  a  note  by  a  telegraph 
messenger." 

At  this  moment  Fred  espied  a  boy  of  his  ac- 
quaintance in  the  street  outside. 


60  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Here,  Charlie  Schaeffer,"  he  called,  "  do  you 
want  to  earn  a  quarter  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  boy  quickly.  "  What  do 
you  want  me  to  do?" 

"  Take  a  note  to  rny  mother." 

"  It'll  cost  me  almost  a  quarter  for  expenses." 

"  I  will  pay  that  besides." 

"  All  right !     Give  me  the  letter." 

Fred  scribbled  these  few  lines : 

Dear  Motheb, 

I  am  sent  to  Suspension  Bridge  and  shall  not  probably  be 
back  till  late  Monday  evening,  or  perhaps  Tuesday  morning. 
Don't  worry. 

Fred. 

Charlie  Shaeffer,  a  stout  German  boy,  who  was 
temporarily  out  of  work,  was  glad  of  the  chance 
of  earning  a  quarter  for  himself,  and  started  at  once 
on  his  errand.  Fred,  quite  elated  at  the  prospect 
of  seeing  Niagara  Falls,  prepared  for  his  trip.  He 
had  to  carry  a  larger  supply  of  stock  on  account  of 
the  length  of  the  journey,  and  was  instructed  to 
lay  in  a  fresh  supply  at  Buffalo  for  the  home  trip. 

He  was  about  to  enter  the  car  at  ten  minutes  of 
nine  when  Joshua  Bascom  appeared  on  the  platform 
with  a  well  worn  carpet  bag  in  his  hand. 

"  Are  you  going  back,  Mr.  Bascom  ?  "  asked  the 
train  boy. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Joshua.  "  I  don't  want  to  go 
to  no  more  station  houses.     I  shan't  rest  easy  till 


TEE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  61 

I'm  back  in  Barton.     You  hain't  seen  any  police- 
man lookin'  for  me,  have  you  ?  " 

"  No  ;  you  haven't  done  anything  wrong,  have 

you?" 

"Not  as  I  know  of,  but  them  cops  is  very 
meddlesome.  I  though  t  that  pickpocket  might  have 
set'em  on  my  track." 

"  You  are  safe  here.  This  is  New  Jersey,  and  a 
New  York  policeman  can't  arrest  you  here." 

"That's  good,"  said  Joshua  with  an  air  of  relief. 
"  Where  are  you  going  to-day.  ?  " 

"  I'm  going  all  the  way  with  you." 

"  You  ain't  goin'  as  far  as  Barton  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  am,  and  farther  too.  I'm  going  to 
Niagara." 

"  You  don't  say  ?  And  you  don't  have  to  pay  a 
cent  either.  ?  " 

"No,  I  get  paid  for  going." 

"  I  wish  I  was  goin'  to  Niagara  with  you.  By 
hokey,  wouldn't  the  folks  stare  if  I  was  to  come 
home  and  tell  'em  I'd  seen  the  Falls  !  " 

"  Can't  you  go  ?  " 

"  No,  I've  spent  all  the  money  I  can  afford.     I 
must  wait  till  next  year." 
"  Did  you  spend  all  of  your  money,  Mr.  Bascom  ?  " 

"  No,"  chuckled  Joshua.  "  I've  only  spent  the 
fifteen  dollars  I  got  for  that  ring,  and  shall  carry 
home  the  ten  dollars." 

"You  are  an  able  financier,  Mr.  Bascom. 
You've  made  your  expenses,  and  can  afford  to  go 


62  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

again.  You  must  tell  your  father  how  you  got  the 
best  of  a  pickpocket." 

"  So  I  will.  I  guess  he'll  think  I'm  smarter  than 
he  reckoned  for." 

At  about  half-past  four  in  the  afternoon,  Fred 
was  called  upon  to  bid  his  country  friend  good-bye. 
Looking  from  the  door  of  the  car,  he  saw  Joshua 
climb  into  a  hay  wagon  driven  by  an  elderly  man 
whose  appearance  led  him  to  conclude  that  he  was 
the  "  dad  "  to  whom  Joshua  had  frequently  referred. 

The  sun  sank,  the  darkness  came  on,  but  still  the 
train  sped  swiftly  over  its  iron  pathway.  The 
passengers  settled  back  in  their  seats,  some  fell 
asleep,  and  the  hum  of  conversation  ceased.  Fred 
too  gave  up  his  trips  through  the  cars,  and  stretching 
himself  out  on  a  seat,  closed  his  eyes.  Presently 
the  train  came  to  a  stop,  and  the  conductor,  putting 
in  his  head  at  the  door,  called  out  "  Niagara  Falls." 

Fred  rose  hastily,  for  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to 
get  out  at  this  point.  He  descended  from  the  train, 
and  found  himself  on  the  platform  of  the  station. 

He  had  already  selected  the  hotel,  a  small  one 
where  the  rate  was  very  moderate,  and  as  there 
was  no  carriage  representing  it  at  the  train  he  set 
out  to  walk.  It  was  a  small,  plain-looking  inn,  of 
perhaps  thirty  rooms,  named  after  the  proprietor  : 

THE   LYNCH   HOUSE. 

On  the  road  thither  he  was  overtaken  by  a  stran- 
ger, whom  he  remembered  as  one  of  the  passengers 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  63 

on  the  second  car.  He  appeared  to  be  about  forty 
years  of  age,  and  though  it  was  a  warm  summer 
evening  he  was  muffled  up  about  the  neck. 

"  Are  you  going  to  stop  here  over  night  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"You  are  the  train  boy,  are  you  not?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  What  hotel  shall  you  put  up  at?" 

"  One  recommended  to  me  by  the  conductor — 
the  Lynch  House." 

"  I  think  I  will  stop  there  too." 

•'  You  may  not  like  it.  It  is  a  small,  cheap 
house." 

"  It  doesn't  matter.  I  am  well  provided  with 
money,  but  I  don't  care  for  style  or  fashion.  I  am 
an  invalid,  and  I  prefer  the  quiet  of  a  small  hotel. 
There  will  be  less  noise  and  confusion." 

"Very  well,  sir.  I  think  that  is  the  hotel 
yonder." 

Such  proved  to  be  the  case.  It  was  large  on 
the  ground,  but  only  three  stories  in  height.  Over 
the  portico  was  a  sign,  bearing  the  name.  It  was 
by  no  means  fashionable  in  its  appearance,  but 
looked  comfortable. 

Fred  and  the  stranger  entered.  A  sleepy-look- 
ing clerk  sat  behind  the  desk.  He  opened  his  eyes, 
and  surveyed  the  late  comers. 

"  Can  you  give  me  a  room  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"I  would  like  one  too,"  said  the  other. 


64  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  We've  only  got  one  room  left,"  said  the  clerk. 
"  That's  a  back  room  on  the  second  story.  Are  you 
gentlemen  in  company  ?  " 

"  No,"  answered  Fred.  "  We  are  strangers  to 
each  other." 

"  Then  I  can't  give  but  one  of  you  a  room.  If 
you  don't  mind  rooming  together,  you  can  both  be 
accommodated." 

"  Are  there  two  beds  in  a  room  ? "  asked  the 
stranger. 

"Yes." 

"  Then  I  don't  object  to  occupying  it  with  this 
young  man.  He  is  a  stranger  to  me,  but  I  watched 
him  on  board  the  train,  and  I  am  sure  he  is  al] 
right." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Fred. 

"  Well,"  said  the  clerk,  "what  does  the  boy  say  ?" 

Fred  looked  curiously  at  his  companion.  He 
was  so  muffled  up  that  he  could  only  see  a  pair  of 
black  eyes,  a  long  sallow  nose,  and  cheeks  covered 
with  dark  whiskers.  The  train  boy  did  not  fancy 
his  looks  much,  but  could  think  of  no  good  reason 
for  declining  him  as  a  room  companion.  He  felt 
that  the  gentleman  had  paid  him  a  compliment  in 
offering  to  room  with  him,  particularly  when,  as 
he  stated,  he  had  a  considerable  amount  of  money 
about  him.  He  paused  a  moment  only,  before  he 
said,  "  Perhaps  we  may  as  well  room  together, 
then." 

All  right !  I  will  go  up  with  you,  as  the  hall 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  65 

boy    has   gone   to   bed.     I  hardly   expected    any 
guests  by  this  late  train." 

The  clerk  took  the  stranger's  valise — Fred  had 
only  a  small  paper  parcel  in  his  hand,  containing  a 
clean  shirt  and  a  collar  which  he  had  bought  in 
Jersey  City  before  taking  passage  on  the  train. 
Up  one  flight  of  stairs  the  clerk  preceded  them 
and  paused  in  front  of  No.  21,  the  back  room  re- 
ferred to.  He  unlocked  the  door,  and  entering, 
lighted  the  gas. 

It  was  a  room  about  twelve  feet  wide  by  twenty 
in  depth.     At  each  end  was  a  single  bedstead. 

"  I  think  you  will  be  comfortable,"  said  the  clerk. 
"  Is  there  anything  you  want  before  retiring  ?  " 

"  No,"  answered  both. 

& 


66  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  X. 

WHAT  TOOK  PLACE  IN  NO.  21. 

The  clerk  closed  the  door,  leaving  Fred  alone 
with  the  stranger. 

The  latter  sat  down  in  one  of  the  two  chairs  with 
which  the  room  was  provided. 

"  I  am  not  sleepy,"  he  said.     "  Are  you  ?  " 

"Yes,"  answered  Fred,  gaping.  "I  ana  not  used 
to  late  hours.  Besides,  I  was  up  early  this  morn- 
ing. 

"  That  makes  a  difference.  I  didn't  get  up  till 
eleven.     I  was  about  to  propose  a  game  of  cards." 

"I  don't  care  for  playing  cards,"  said  Fred. 
*'  Besides,  I  am  sleepy." 

"  All  right !  You  won't  object  to  my  sitting  up 
awhile  and  reading?" 

Fred  would  have  preferred  to  have  his  compan- 
ion go  to  bed,  as  he  was  not  used  to  sleep  with  a 
light  burning.  He  did  not  wish  to  be  disobliging, 
however,  and  answered  that  he  didn't  mind. 

The  stranger  took  from  his  hand-bag  a  paper- 
covered  novel,  and  seating  himself  near  the  gas  jet, 
began  to  read. 

Fred  undressed  himself  and  lay  down.     He  re- 


THE  ERIE  TBAIN  BOY.  67 

membered  with  a  little  uneasiness  that  he  had  with 
him  the  hundred  dollars  in  gold  which  had  been 
intrusted  to  him  by  the  miner.  He  had  had  no 
opportunity  as  yet  to  deposit  it  in  the  Union  Dime 
Savings  Bank,  as  he  had  decided  to  do,  and  had  not 
thought  to  leave  it  with  his  mother.  He  wished 
now  that  he  had  done  so,  for  be  was  about  to  pass 
several  hours  in  the  company  of  a  man  whom  he 
knew  nothing  about.  Still,  the  man  had  plenty  of 
money  of  his  own,  or  at  least  he  had  said  so,  and  was 
not  likely  therefore  to  be  tempted  to  steal. 

Fred  took  his  place  in  bed,  and  looked  over 
toward  the  stranger  with  some  uneasiness. 

"  Are  you  a  good  sleeper  ?  "  asked  his  companion 
carelessly. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Fred. 

"  So  am  I.  I  don't  feel  sleepy  just  as  present, 
but  presume  I  shall  within  twenty  minutes.  I  hope 
I  don't  inconvenience  you  by  sitting  up." 

"No,"  answered  Fred  slowly. 

"  I've  got  my  book  nearly  finished — I  began  to 
read  it  on  the  train.  When  do  you  expect  to  go 
back?" 

"  Monday  morning,"  Fred  answered. 

"  That's  good !  We  will  go  and  see  the  Falls  to- 
gether to-morrow.     Ever  seen  them?" 

"No,  sir;  this   is    my   first   visit    to    Niagara." 

"  I  have  been  here  several  times,  so  I  know  the 
ropes.  I  shall  be  glad  to  show  you  just  where  to 
go.     But  pardon  me.     I  see  you   are    sleepy.     I 


68  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

won't  say  another  word.     Good  night,  and  pleasant 
dreams ! " 

"  Good  night." 

The  stranger  continued  to  read  for  twenty  min- 
utes. At  any  rate  he  appeared  to  do  so.  Occa- 
sionally he  glanced  over  toward  Fred's  bed.  The 
train  boy  meant  to  keep  awake  till  his  compan- 
ion got  ready  to  go  to  bed,  but  he  was  naturally  a 
good  sleeper,  and  his  eyes  would  close  in  spite 
of  him  ;  and  finally  he  gave  jp  all  hope  of  resist- 
ance, and  yielded  to  the  inevitable. 

Soon  his  deep,  regular  breathing  showed  that 
he  was  unconscious  of  what  was  passing  around 
him. 

The  stranger  rose,  walked  cautiously  to  the  bed, 
and  surveyed  the  sleeping  boy. 

"  How  peacefully  he  sleeps  !  "  he  said,  "  He 
has  nothing  on  his  conscience.  At  his  age  it  was 
the  same  with  me.  I  started  right,  but — circum- 
stances have  been  too  much  for  me.  There  won't  be 
much  sleep  for  me  to-night,  for  the  detectives  are 
doubtless  on  my  track.  I  must  get  rid  of  one 
damaging  piece  of  evidence." 

He  opened  his  valise,  and,  after  searching  a  little, 
drew  therefrom  a  massive  gold  watch  rather  old- 
fashioned  in  appearance,  attached  to  a  solid  gold 
chain.  Neither  was  new,  and  both  had  evidently 
been  used  for  a  considerable  number  of  years. 

"  I  was  a  fool  to  take  these,"  said  the  stranger. 
"  They  are  more  likely  to  fasten  suspicion  on  me 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  69 

than  anything  else.     However,  I  have  a  good  chance 
now  to  get  rid  of  them." 

Fred  had  laid  his  newspaper  parcel  on  a  small 
table  near  his  bed.  The  other  carefully  untied  the 
twine  with  which  he  had  fastened  it,  and,  putting 
the  watch  and  chain  inside  the  shirt,  he  carefully 
wrapped  it  up  again,  and  tied  it  with  the  same  cord. 

"  The  boy  will  be  considerably  surprised  when 
he  opens  his  bundle  and  discovers  these,"  he  re- 
flected, with  a  smile.  "  He  will  be  a  little  puzzled 
to  know  how  they  came  there.  Well,  that  is  none 
of  my  business.  Self  preservation  is  the  first  law 
of  nature,  and  it  is  important  that  I  should  get  rid 
of  such  tell-tale  clews." 

This  piece  of  business  over,  the  stranger  stretched 
himself  and  took  off  his  coat.  He  was  proceeding 
to  undress  when  a  sudden  thought  deterred  him. 

"  On  the  whole,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  I  will  go 
to  bed  as  I  am.  I  may  have  occasion  for  a  sudden 
start.     It  is  best  to  be  on  the  safe  side." 

He  laid  his  coat  on  the  back  of  a  chair,  and  put- 
ting out  the  gas,  stretched  himself  on  the  bed.  He 
had  not  thought  himself  sleepy,  but  a  recumbent 
position  brought  on  a  drowsy  feeling,  and  before 
he  was  well  aware  of  it  he  had  sunk  to  sleep.  But 
his  slumber  was  not  as  sound  or  restful  as  the  train 
boy's.  From  time  to  time  he  uttered  ejaculations, 
as  if  he  were  terror-stricken,  and  once  he  waked  up 
with  a  cold  perspiration  on  his  brow.  It  took  a 
minute  for  him  to  realize  his  position. 


70  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  What  a  fool  I  am!"  he  muttered  in  disgust. 
"I  thought  the  police  had  nabbed  me,  but  all's 
safe  so  far.  If  I  could  only  get  a  little  more  sleep 
— as  sound  and  peaceful  as  that  boy  is  enjoying — 
I  should  wake  revived  in  the  morning.  There  is 
no  reason  why  I  shouldn't.  They  can't  have  got 
on  my  track  so  soon," 

He  closed  his  eyes,  and  succeeded  in  dispelling 
the  uneasy  feeling  which  sprang  from  the  con- 
sciousness of  having  exposed  himself  to  the  danger 
of  arrest.  It  was  now  three  o'clock.  In  fifteen 
minutes  he  was  sleeping  again,  and  this  time  his 
slumbers  were  less  disturbed  and  uneasy.  He 
awoke  suddenly  to  find  the  sun  streaming  into  the 
room. 

"  It  must  be  late  !  "  he  thought,  a  little  nervously. 

But  on  examining  his  watch  he  found  that  it 
was  only  six  o'clock. 

"  I  may  as  well  get  up,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I 
shall  be  safer  on  the  Canada  side.  I  don't  want  to 
wake  the  boy,  for  he  might  be  tempted  to  get  up 
with  me.  Besides,  if  he  opened  his  bundle,  the 
sight  of  the  watch  might  arouse  his  suspicions,  and 
get  me  into  trouble.  Fortunately  I  did  not  undress, 
and  can  be  up  and  away  in  two  minutes." 

He  put  on  his  coat,  and  descended  to  the  office. 

"  You  are  down  early,"  said  the  clerk  in  some 
surprise. 

"  Yes.  I  want  to  see  the  Falls  and  take  an  early 
train  West.     How  much  is  my  bill  ?  " 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  71 

He  was  told,  and  laid  the  money  on  the  desk. 

"  The  boy  with  you  remains  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so.  The  boy  is  no  acquaintance 
of  mine.  I  only  met  him  on  the  train.  There  is 
something  about  that  boy  that  excites  my  curios- 
ity," he  added  thoughtfully. 

"  Such  as  what  ?  "  asked  the  clerk,  his  curiosity 
aroused. 

"  He  seems  to  have  something  on  his  mind.  His 
sleep  was  very  much  disturbed.  He  moved  about 
a  good  deal,  and  muttered  frequently,  but  I  could 
not  make  out  any  words." 

"  Perhaps  he  has  run  away  from  home,"  suggested 
the  clerk. 

The  stranger  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  He  may  have  had  good  reasons  for  running 
away,"  he  said.  "  However,  that  is  none  of  my 
business.  I  suppose  you  missed  nothing  during 
the  night." 

"  No.     Good  morning." 

The  stranger  went  out,  directing  his  steps  to- 
ward the  Falls. 

An  hour  later  a  quiet-looking  man  entered  the 
office. 

"  Good-morning,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  the  clerk. 
"  what  brings  you  here  so  early  ?  " 

"  Business,"  answered  the  other  briefly.  "  Did 
you  have  any  late  arrivals  last  evening  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  two." 

"Who  were  they?" 


72  THE  EBIE  TRAIN  EOT. 

il  A  man  and  boy." 

"Are  they  here  still?" 

"  The  boy  is  upstairs.  The  man  left  at  six 
o'clock.  He  wanted  to  see  the  Falls  before  taking 
an  early  train.  He  said  the  boy  seemed  very  ner- 
vous, and  had  a  troubled  sleep." 

The  detective  nodded.  "  I  think  he  must  be  the 
party  I  want."  < 

"  Why,  what  has  happened  ?  " 

"  The  house  of  a  wealthy  old  gentleman  in  Elmira 
was  entered  yesterday  afternoon,  and  articles  of 
value  taken.  I  received  a  telegram  this  morning 
which  should  have  reached  me  last  night,  asking 
me  to  be  on  the  watch  for  any  suspicious  parties." 

"And  you  think  the  boy  committed  the  burg- 
lary?" asked  the  clerk  in  excitement. 

"  It  looks  like  it.  With  your  permission  I  will 
go  upstairs  and  take  a  look  at  him." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  XL 

FRED  FALLS  UNDER  A  TERRIBLE   SUSPICION. 

About  ten  minutes  before  the  arrival  of  the 
detective  Fred  woke  up.  He  generally  awoke 
earlier,  but  his  long  ride  of  the  day  before  had  fa- 
tigued him  more  than  usual.  It  was  natural  for 
him  to  glance  over  to  the  opposite  bed,  occupied 
by  his  traveling  companion.  He  was  surprised  to 
find  it  empty. 

He  must  have  got  up  early,"  thought  Fred. 
"  I  wonder  if  he  has  gone  for  good." 

This  seemed  likely,  for  the  stranger's  valise  had 
disappeared  also. 

"  I  wonder  he  didn't  wake  me  up  and  bid  me 
^ood-bye,"  thought  the  train  boy. 

Then  a  momentary  suspicion  led  him  to  search 
for  the  hundred  dollars  in  gold  which  he  had  care- 
fully concealed  in  his  inside  vest  pocket.  If  that 
were  taken,  he  would  be  in  a  quandary,  for  there 
would  be  little  chance  of  his  being  able  to  make 
up  the  loss  to  his  friend,  the  Western  miner. 

He  found,  to  his  relief,  that  the  gold  had  not  been 
touched,  and  he  reproached  himself  for  the  injus- 
tice he  had  in  his  thoughts  done  his  late  room-mate. 


74  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

u  Well,"  soliloquized  Fred,  as  he  lazily  got  out 
of  bed  and  drew  on  his  clothes,  "  I  am  not  sorry  to 
have  the  room  alone.  If  I  could  have  a  friend 
from  home  with  me  I  should  like  it,  but  I  don't 
care  for  the  company  of  a  stranger." 

Fred  reflected  that  he  had  all  the  day  to  himself. 
He  could  hear  the  roar  of  the  famous  cataract, 
which  he  had  not  yet  seen  on  account  of  his  late 
arrival  the  night  before,  and  he  determined  to  go 
there  immediately  after  breakfast,  or  even  before 
breakfast  if  he  found  that  it  was  quite  near.  He 
went  to  the  window  and  looked  out,  but  it  was  not 
in  sight. 

"  I  may  as  well  put  on  a  clean  shirt,"  thought 
Fred,  and  he  went  to  the  table  to  open  the  bundle 
which  he  had  brought  from  Jersey  City.  He  had 
just  unfastened  the  string  when  a  quick,  impera- 
tive knock  was  heard  at  the  door  of  his  room. 

"  Come  in !  "  said  Fred,  with  some  surprise. 

He  turned  his  face  to  the  door,  and  his  wonder 
increased  as  it  opened  and  he  saw  the  clerk  and  a 
stranger  standing  on  the  threshold.  They  entered 
the  room  and  closed  the  door  behind  them. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  asked  the  train  boy. 
"  Has  anything  happened  ?  " 

"  When  did  your  room-mate  leave  ?  "  asked  the 
detective,  not  answering  his  question. 

"I  don't  know  ;  I  only  just  woke  up." 

"  Did  you  rest  well  ?  " 

"That's   a   very   queer   question  to  ask    me," 


TEE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  75 

thought  Fred.  "  Yes,"  he  answered,  "  I  rested 
very  well." 

The  detective  and  the  clerk  exchanged  glances. 
This  statement  did  not  accord  with  what  Fred's 
room-mate  had  said  downstairs. 

"  The  bed  was  very  comfortable,"  added  Fred 
by  way  of  compliment  to  the  house. 

"  I  am  glad  you  found  it  so,"  said  the  detective 
dryly. 

"  Did  you  come  upstairs  to  ask  how  I  rested  ?  " 
asked  Fred,  with  a  smile. 

"  You  are  sharp,  my  young  friend,"  said  the 
detective,  "  and  I  think  I  may  say  wonderfully 
cool — under  the  circumstances." 

"Under  what  circumstances?"  asked  Fred,  his 
attention  drawn  to  the  last  part  of  the  detective's 
speech. 

"  There  was  a  burglary  committed  yesterday 
afternoon  in  Elmira,"  said  the  detective,  fastening 
his  eyes  keenly  on  the  face  of  the  train  boy. 

"  Was  there  ?  "  asked  Fred,  not  seeing  in  what 
way  this  information  was  likely  to  affect  him.  "  I 
thought  most  burglaries  were  committed  in  the 
night." 

"  They  are,  generally,  but  this  was  an  exception, 
There  was  no  one  in  the  house  except  old  Mr.  Car- 
ver, who  is  quite  hard  of  hearing.  The  burglary 
probably  took  place  about  five  o'clock,  and  the  bur- 
glar is  supposed  to  have  taken  the  5:51  train  from 
Elmira." 


76  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Why,  that  is  the  train  I  was  od,"  said  Fred  in 
surprise. 

"  By  a  curious  coincidence,"  said  the  detective 
with  a  queer  smile,  "  it  was  by  your  train  that  the 
burglar  probably  traveled." 

His  tone  was  so  significant  that  Fred  asked 
quickly.     "  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean,  my  young  friend,"  said  the  detective, 
•'  that  you  are  suspected  to  know  something  of  this 
affair.' 

"  If  you  are  a  detective,"  retorted  Fred,  "  I  don't 
think  much  of  your  sharpness.  I  have  never  been 
in  Elmira  in  my  life." 

"  Probably  not,"  said  Ferguson,  the  detective, 
with  a  provoking  smile. 

"  I  passed  through  there  yesterday  on  my  way 
from  New  York.  With  that  exception,  I  never 
saw  the  place." 

"  That  may  be  true,"  said  the  detective  cautiously 
"  or  it  may  not.  I  will  take  the  liberty  of  examin- 
ing your  luggage  to  see  if  I  can  find  any  of  the 
stolen  articles." 

"  You  are  welcome  to  do  it,"  said  Fred. 

"  Bring  it  out  then.  Where  have  you  put  it — 
under  the  bed  ?  " 

"  All  the  luggage  I  have  is  in  this  bundle,"  said 
the  train  boy.  "  You  can  open  that  if  you  think 
it  will  do  you  any  good." 

"  You  are  sure  you  have  no  valise?" 

Ferguson,  who  like  most  of  his  class  was  suspi- 


THE  END  CAME   SPEEDILY. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  77 

cious,  peeped  under  each  bed,  but  found  nothing  to 
reward  his  search.  Somewhat  disappointed  he  went 
to  the  table  and  opened  the  newspaper  bundle.  He 
did  so  listlessly,  not  really  expecting  to  find  any- 
thing, but  as  he  unrolled  Fred's  shirt  there  was  a 
triumphant  look  in  his  eyes  when  he  uncovered 
the  gold  watch  and  chain. 

"  Just  as  I  thought,"  he  said,  with  a  nod  to  tha 
clerk. 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  gasped  Fred. 

"  It  appears  to  be  a  watch  and  chain,"  answered 
Ferguson  coolly.  "  Possibly  you  can  tell  me  how 
it  came  there." 

"  I  know  nothing  about  it,"  said  Fred  in  dire 
amazement. 

"You  do  not  claim  it  as  yours,  then  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not.    I  never  saw  it  before  in  my  life.' 

"  Is  this  shirt  yours  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  You  brought  it  with  you  ? 

"  Yes." 

"  Let  me  open  the  watch.  Do  you  see  this  in- 
scription ?  " 

Fred  and  the  clerk  approached,  and  on  the  inside 
of  the  case  read  the  name,  "  Philo  Carver,  Elmira, 
1865." 

"  You  see  ?  This  is  one  of  the  articles  stolen 
from  Mr.  Carver's  house  yesterday  afternoon.  It  is 
a  little  odd  that  this  young  man  in  whose  bundle 
I  find  it  cannot  explain  its  presence." 


78  THE  EltlE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"  You  may  believe  me  or  not,"  said  Fred  des- 
perately, "  but  it  is  true  all  the  same.  I  know  noth- 
ing of  this  watch  or  chain,  and  I  never  saw  either 
before.  Can  you  tell  me  what  other  articles  were 
taken  by  the  burglar?" 

"  Some  government  bonds,  and  a  small  sum  of 
bank  bills." 

"  Then  you  had  better  search  for  them  also  here* 
I  will  help  you  all  I  can." 

"  Well,  you  are  a  cool  hand." 

"  No  ;  I  am  innocent,  that  is  all." 

f'  It  is  pretty  clear  you  have  nothing  else  with 
you,  or  you  wouldn't  be  so  willing.  However,  I 
consider  it  my  duty  to  do  as  you  suggest." 

He  hunted  under  the  mattresses,  and  finally  ex- 
amined Fred's  pockets.  At  last  he  felt  in  the  inside 
vest  pocket  and  drew  out  the  gold  coins. 

"  Ha,  we  have  something  here  !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Fred,  "  but  those  happen  to 
belong  to  me." 

"  Where  did  you  get  them?  " 

"  From  a  friend  in  New  York.  He  intrusted 
them  to  me  to  use  if  I  needed.  Meanwhile  I  was 
to  put  them  in  the  savings  bank." 

"  Not  a  very  likely  story,"  said  the  detective 
suspiciously. 

"  Likely  or  not,  it  is  a  true  story.  Does  this 
man  Carver  claim  to  have  lost  any  gold  coins  ?  " 

»  No." 

"  I  thought  not.' 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  79 

"  However,  we  come  back  to  the  inquiry — where 
did  you  get  the  watch  ?  " 

"  The  man  who  slept  in  the  room  with  me  must 
have  left  it  here  to  throw  suspicion  on  me,"  said 
Fred,  with  sudden  inspiration. 

"  That  is  possible,"  said  the  clerk,  who  was  favor- 
ably impressed  by  Fred's  manner. 

"  We  must  not  jump  at  conclusions,"  said  the 
detective  warily.  "  I  shall  feel  justified  in  detain- 
ing the  boy  after  what  I  have  found." 

"  You  won't  take  me  to  the  station  house  ?  "  said 
Fred  nervously. 

"  No ;  it  will  answer  the  purpose  if  you  are  locked 
up  in  this  room — for  the  present." 

"  Then,"  said  Fred,  turning  to  the  clerk,  "  I 
shall  be  much  obliged  if  you  will  send  me  up  some 
breakfast." 

"  It  shall  be  done." 

Within  half  an  hour  Fred  was  discussing  a  beef- 
steak and  fried  potatoes  with  hearty  enjoyment. 
It  takes  a  good  deal  to  spoil  the  appetite  of  a 
healthy  boy  of  seventeen. 


tfO  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FRED  AS  A  PRISONER. 

After  breakfast  Fred  became  restless.  It  was 
tantalizing  to  be  so  near  the  Falls,  and  yet  to  be 
locked  up,  and  prevented  from  seeing  them.  Of 
course  it  would  all  come  right  in  time,  but  it  was 
hard  to  bear  the  suspense  and  confinement.  Hunt- 
ing round  the  room  he  found  a  juvenile  book,  and 
sitting  down  at  the  window  read  it.  It  helped  to 
while  away  the  time  till  twelve  o'clock.  He  had 
scarcely  read  the  last  page  when  he  heard  the  key 
turning  in  the  lock  outside.  The  door  opened  and 
two  persons  appeared  at  the  entrance.  One  was 
the  clerk  the  other  a  boy,  rather  short,  with  a 
bright,  attractive  face. 

"  I  thought  you  might  like  company,"  said  the 
clerk  in  a  friendly  manner.  "  This  is  my  young 
cousin,  Frank  Hamblin,  who  will  remain  with  you 
for  a  while." 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Frank,"  said  Fred  offer- 
ing his  hand.  "  You  are  very  kind  to  come  and 
see  a  bold,  bad  burglar." 

"  You  don't  look  much  like  it,"  said  Frank,  laugh' 
ing.     "  StiU  appearances  are  deceitful," 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  81 

"  I  don't  think  I  look  wicked,"  said  Fred  medi- 
tatively, as  he  glanced  at  his  reflection  in  a  small 
mirror  that  hung  over  the  washstand.  "  Yet  it 
appears  that  I  have  broken  into  a  gentleman's 
house  in  Elmira,  and  stolen  a  gold  watch  and  chain 
and  some  government  bonds." 

"  How  could  you  do  it?  "  asked  Fred  with  much 
seriousness.     "  So  young  and  yet  so  wicked !  " 

"  That's  the  question  that  puzzles  me,"  said 
Fred.  "  How  could  I  do  it  when  at  the  time  the 
burglary  was  committed  I  was  speeding  over  the 
Erie  road  at  the  rate  of  thirty  miles  an  hour  ?  " 

"  Can  you  prove  this  ?  "  asked  Frank  eagerly. 

"  Certainly  I  could,  if  the  conductor  or  brake- 
man  of  my  car  were  here." 

"  Where  are  they  ?  " 

"  Probably  on  their  way  back  to  New  York." 

"  Do  you  live  there  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  I  have  always  wanted  to  see  the  city  of  New 
York.     It  must  be  a  gay  place." 

"  You  are  right  there,  Frank.  Whenever  you 
do  come,  just  inquire  for  Fred  Fenton,  and  I  will 
show  you  round.     There  is  my  address." 

"  Thank  you !  I  should  like  it  ever  so  much. 
Have  you  ever  been  here  before  ?  " 

"  No.  I  wanted  very  much  to  see  the  Falls,  but 
here  I  am  locked  up  in  a  hotel  chamber.  I  wish 
the  Falls  were  visible  from  the  window." 

"  They  are  on  the  other  side  of  the  house." 
6 


82  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Do  you  know  this  detective — the  one  that 
searched  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have  seen  him.  I  heard  him  tell  my 
cousin  that  he  did  not  believe  you  guilty,  but  that 
finding  the  watch  and  chain  in  your  bundle  was  a 
suspicious  circumstance." 

"  I  suppose  it  is.  Now  I  can  understand  how 
innocent  people  get  into  trouble.  Do  you  live 
here?" 

"  No,  I  am  only  visiting  some  friends  here.  I 
live  in  Auburn." 

"  That's  where  the  State's  prison  is,  isn't  it  ?  " 

«  Yes." 

"  Then  I  hope  I  shan't  go  to  Auburn  to  live. 
Have  you  any  idea  how  long  I  shall  have  to  stay 
here?" 

"Till  evening,  I  suppose.  You  will  probably 
be  brought  before  a  justice  in  the  morning,"  was 
Frank's  reply. 

Fred  sighed. 

"  How  differently  things  have  turned  out  from 
what  I  anticipated  '  "  he  said.  "  I  expected  to  be 
walking  round,  and  looking  at  the  Falls  to-day." 

"  Hold  on  a  minute  !  "  said  Frank.  "  Mr.  Fergu- 
son boards  here,  and  he  may  be  down  stairs  now. 

I'll  ask  him  if  you  can't  go  out  under  my  charge 
if  you'll  promise  not  to  run  away." 

"  I'll  promise  that  fast  enough.  You  can  knock 
me  down  if  I  attempt  to  escape." 


THE  EMIE  TRAIN  BOY.  83 

"  I  am  afraid  I  might  find  that  difficult,  as  you 
are  at  least  two  inches  taller  than  I." 

"  I  will  be  very  gentle  and  submissive.  I 
wouldn't  be  willing  to  run  away  with  such  a  sus- 
picion hanging  over  me." 

"  Excuse  me  a  minute  !  I'll  do  what  I  can  for 
you." 

Frank  went  to  the  door  and  attempted  to  open 
it,  but  it  was  locked  on  the  outside  and  resisted  his 
efforts. 

"  I  forgot,"  he  said,  laughing, "  that  I  am  a  prisoner 
too.  Really  it  makes  a  fellow  feel  queer  to  be 
locked  up." 

"  That's  the  way  I  feel.  You  can  ring  the  bell, 
can't  you?  " 

"  A  good  thought !  " 

"  Frank  rang  the  bell,  and  presently  a  hall  boy 
opened  the  door  about  an  inch,  and  looked  in. 

"  Is  anything  wanted  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Is  Mr.  Ferguson  downstairs  ?  "  said  Frank. 

"  He  has  just  come  in." 

"  Won't  you  ask  him  to  step  up  here  a  minute  ?  " 

"  All  right,  sir." 

The  door  was  relocked,  but  two  minutes  later  it 
was  opened,  and  the  detective  walked  in. 

"Ha!"  he  said.  "So  we  have  two  burglar* 
instead  of  one." 

"  I  am  just  as  much  a  burglar  as  Fred  is,"  said 
Frank. 

"  Then,"  said  the  detective  with  a  smile,  "  I  may 


84  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

feel  it  my  duty  to  search  you.  You  do  have  rather 
a  hardened  expression." 

"  Do  you  think  I  have  ?  "  asked  Fred  smiling. 

"  Well,  no.  I  wouldn't  pick  you  out  for  a  pro* 
fessional  criminal,  and  to  be  honest  with  you,  I 
doubt  whether  you  know  anything  of  the  burg- 
lary." 

"  Thank  you  !  I  am  glad  you  have  a  better 
opinion  of  me  than  that." 

"  But  what  is  it  you  want  of  me,  Frank  ?  " 

"  I  want  Fred  to  have  a  chance  to  see  the  Falls. 
He  has  never  been  here  before,  and  it  will  be  a 
great  disappointment  to  him  if  he  has  to  go  away 
without  seeing  them." 

"  To  be  sure,  to  be  sure  ! "  said  the  detective 
thoughtfully. 

"  I  thought  you  might  let  him  go  out  under  my 
escort." 

Mr.  Ferguson  smiled. 

"  What  could  you  do  if  he  took  it  into  his  head 
to  escape  ?  " 

"  You  couldn't  lend  me  a  club,  could  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  carry  any.  That  is  for  policemen,  and 
I  have  never  acted  in  that  capacity." 

"  But  he  won't  run  away,  will  you,  Fred?" 

"  No,  I  prefer  to  stay  here  till  I  am  cleared  of 
euspicion." 

"  You  see,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  Frank,  eagerly, 
"  there  will  be  no  risk  about  it.  He  can  give  you 
his  parole — that's  the  word,  isn't  it?  " 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  85 

"  Yes ;  but  this  privilege  is  never  accorded  to 
those  who  are  arrested  for  burglary." 

"  It  is  certainly  inconvenient  to  be  a  burglar," 
said  Fred,  smiling  in  spite  of  his  secret  anxiety. 

"  Then  you  can't  let  him  go  ?  "  questioned  Frank, 
regretfully. 

"  Well,  there  is  one  way.  I  should  not  consider 
it  safe  to  let  him  go  with  you,  but  I  might  accom- 
pany you." 

"  That  will  be  capital !     You  will,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will,"  said  Ferguson,  after  a  momentary 
pause.  "  I  have  a  boy  of  my  own  about  the  age  of 
— the  young  burglar — and  that  perhaps  inclines 
me  to  be  more  indulgent.  But  you  must  wait  till 
after  dinner." 

"  Will  dinner  be  sent  up  here  ?  "  asked  Frank. 

"  Yes,  for  him  ;  but  you  are  not  staying  at  the 
house." 

"  I  forgot ;  and  I  haven't  got  money  enough  to 
pay  for  a  hotel  dinner." 

"  That's  all  right,  Frank,"  said  Fred.  "  I  invite 
you  to  dine  with  me,  and  it  shall  be  charged  on 
my  bill.  I  shall  enjoy  dinner  better  if  I  have  com- 
pany." 

"  Thank  you.  I  accept  the  invitation,  but  I 
don't  like  to  be  an  expense  to  you." 

"  Never  mind." 

Dinner  was  sent  up  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour, 
and  the  two  boys  enjoyed  it. 


86  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"  Are  you  still  attending  school,  Frank?  "  asked 
Fred. 

"  Yes." 

"  I  should  like  to,  but  poor  boys  like  me  have  to 
work  for  a  living." 

"  If  you  won't  tell  I  will  let  you  into  a  secret." 

"What  is  it?" 

"  I  am  writing  a  long  story.  I  want  to  be  an 
author  some  time.  I've  written  twenty  chapters 
already." 

"  You  must  be  smart,"  said  Fred  in  surprise. 
"  Why,  I  couldn't  write  as  much  in  a  whole 
year." 

"  Of  course  I  can't  tell  whether  it  is  good  for 
anything,  but  some  time  I  mean  to  write  well." 

"  Well,  Frank,  I  wish  you  success,  I  am  sure. 
Some  day  I  may  be  proud  to  know  you." 

"Now  I  might  write  a  story  about  you,  and  call 
it  '  The  Boy  Burglar.'  " 

"  Don't !  I  have  no  wish  to  figure  in  that  char- 
acter." 

Half  an  hour  later  the  door  opened,  and  the  de- 
tective entered,  dressed  for  a  walk. 

"  Now,  if  you  two  burglars  are  ready,"  he  said, 
"  we  will  take  a  stroll." 


TME  EEIE  TRAIN  SOT.  87 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  HOTEL  CLERK'S  MISTAKE. 

What  was  the  name  of  your  room-mate,  Fred." 
asked  Frank  Hamblin,  as  they  went  downstairs. 
"  I  didn't  notice.     He  registered  before  me." 
"  Suppose  we  look  and  see.     It  may  be  well  to 
know." 

They  opened  the  hotel  register,  and  saw  written 
in  a  bold,  free  hand : 

F.  Grant  Palmer,  Chicago. 

"  It  may  be  another  Fred,"  suggested  Frank. 

"  Or  Frank.  Either  name  would  do  for  a  burg- 
lar," said  Mr.  Ferguson,  smiling.  "  But  it  is 
hardly  consistent  with  professional  etiquette  to  joke 
on  such  a  subject.  I  will  endeavor  to  forget  while 
we  are  walking  together  that  one  of  the  party 
is  an  offender  against  the  laws,  or  under  suspi- 
cion as  such." 

"  I  want  to  forget  it  myself,"  said  Fred,  "  or  it 
will  spoil  my  enjoyment  of  Niagara." 

"I  wonder  where  Mr.  F.  Grant  Palmer  is  now," 
said  Frank.     « I  feel  sure  he  is  the  real  burglar." 


88  TEE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Then  he  has  probably  gone  over  into  Canada," 
returned  Fred.  "  It  is  unlucky  for  me  that  he  left 
the  watch  and  chain,  but  lucky  for  Mr  Carver, 
who  will  now  recover  them." 

Meanwhile  let  us  follow  Mr.  Palmer,  whose  move- 
ments are  of  interest  to  us  in  connection  with 
the  suspicion  he  has  managed  to  throw  on  Fred. 
When  he  left  the  Lynch  House  he  proposed,  as  a 
measure  of  safety,  to  go  over  to  the  Canada  side, 
and  indeed  he  did  so.  He  made  his  way  to  the 
Clifton  House,  and  registered  there,  depositing  his 
valise  at  the  office  while  he  went  in  to  break- 
fast. 

"We  have  no  room  at  present,"  said  the  clerk, 
politely,  "but  by  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  we 
shall  undoubtedly  have  a  few  vacancies.  Will 
that  answer  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Palmer  easily.  "I  am  in  no 
special  hurry  for  a  room,  but  will  take  breakfast 
and  go  out  for  a  walk." 

It  did  occur  to  Mr.  Palmer  that  the  valise, 
containing  as  it  did  the  bonds  stolen  from  Mr. 
Carver  in  Elmira,  should  be  carefully  guarded. 
However,  it  would  surely  be  as  safe  in  the  care  of  the 
hotel  clerk  of  the  Clifton  as  in  any  hotel  room,  and 
probably  even  safer.  So  he  ate  breakfast  with  an 
easy  mind,  and  then,  purchasing  a  cigar,  took  a 
walk  along  the  road  which  presents  the  best  views 
of  the  Falls. 

Mr.  Palmer  felt  very  complacent. 


T3E  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY.  89 

"  It  is  a  blessing  to  gentlemen  in  my  profession," 
he  soliloquized,  "that  Canada  is  so  conveniently- 
near.  Here  the  minions  of  the  law  cannot  touch 
us  for  any  little  indiscretion  committed  under  the 
stars  and  stiipes.  I  hear  people  talking  of  an- 
nexing Canada  to  the  States,  but  to  that  I  am 
unalterably  opposed.  I  should  have  to  retire  from 
business,  and  I  am  not  able  to  do  that  at  present." 

He  was  standing  at  a  convenient  point  surveying 
the  Falls,  when  he  felt  a  light  touch  on  his  shoulder. 
Such  was  the  force  of  habit  that  Mr.  Palmer 
started  violently,  and  turned  round  nervously. 

It  was  a  stout  man  with  a  smiling  face  that  con- 
fronted him. 

"  Ha,  Palmer ! "  said  the  new  arrival.  "  Did 
you  mistake  me  for " 

"  How  are  you,  Wellington  ?  I  am  glad  to  see 
you." 

"  Instead  of " 

"  Oh,  pshaw  !  A  man  naturally  starts  when  he  is 
tapped  on  the  shoulder  unexpectedly." 

"  I  see.     You  were  admiring  the  Falls." 

"Yes." 

"  There  is  a  good  deal  of  romance  in  your 
composition,  my  dear  Palmer,"  said  his  friend 
banteringly.     "  Anything  new  ?  " 

"  Well,  yes,"  said  Palmer,  glancing  around  him 
cautiously. 

"Made  a  strike,  eh?" 

"  Well,  something  of  the  sort." 


90  THE  EBIE  TBAIN  BOY. 

"What  is  it?" 

"  I  managed  to  have  a  stroke  of  luck  at  Elmira, 
yesterday  afternoon." 

"How  much  did  you  get  away  with  ?" 

"  Hush  !  don't  speak  so  plainly.  Suppose  any 
one  should  hear  you  ?  " 

"  My  dear  fellow,  there  is  no  one  within  two 
hundred  yards." 

"  Well,  there  must  be  five  thousand  dollars  in 
bonds  and  money." 

"  Very  neat,  upon  my  word !  You  are  in 
luck !  " 

"  How  about  you  ?  " 

"  I  made  a  small  raise  at  Buffalo — a  paltry  three 
hundred  dollars'  worth.  It  was  hardly  worth  the 
trouble  of  taking.     Still,  a  man  must  live." 

"  To  be  sure  !  " 

"  Now  with  what  you  picked  up  you  can  live  a 
year  or  two  in  comfort.  Upon  my  soul,  I  envy 
you.     Are  you  suspected?  " 

"  I  have  managed  to  divert  suspicion,  I  think  ;  " 
and  Palmer  told  his  friend  the  story  of  his  secreting 
the  gold  watch  and  chain  in  Fred's  luggage. 

"  Very  shrewd  !  "  said  his  friend  approvingly. 
"  Palmer,  you  are  a  credit  to  our  profession.  I 
shall  be  content  to  take  lessons  of  you." 

"  Oh,  you  are  only  joking,"  said  Palmer,  his 
expression  showing,  however,  that  he  felt  proud 
of  the  compliment. 

They  took  a  long  and  leisurely  walk  together, 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  91 

talking  over  their  mutual  experiences.  They  had 
known  each  other  for  ten  years,  having  been 
fellow  boarders  together  as  far  back  as  that  at  Sing 
Sing.  Since  then  neither  had  been  caught,  though 
both  had  been  engaged  in  violating  the  laws. 
Their  similar  professions  had  given  them  a  com- 
mon bond  of  sympathy,  and  they  found  so  much 
satisfaction  in  each  other's  company  that  the  time 
slipped  by  insensibly,  and  it  was  half-past  twelve 
before  before  they  found  their  way  back  to  the 
Clifton. 

Mr.  Palmer  stepped  up  to  the  desk. 

"  Have  you  a  room  for  me  yet  ?  "   he  inquired. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  can  give  you  No.  67.  Here, 
front !  " 

A  hall  boy  answered  the  summons. 

"  Take  the  gentleman  up  to  67,"  said  the  clerk. 

"  Any  luggage,  sir  ?  " 

"  You  may  hand  me  my  valise,  if  you  please." 

"  Beg  pardon  ;  here  it  is." 

"Come  up  with  me,  Wellington.  We'll  con- 
tinue our  talk  upstairs." 

Palmer  merely  glanced  at  the  valise,  and  con- 
tinued talking  with  his  friend.  The  hall  boy  un- 
locked the  door  of  No.  67  and  led  the  way  inside. 

It  was  a  pleasant  room,  and  Palmer  looked  about 
him  approvingly. 

"  I  shall  be  very  comfortable  here,"  he  said. 

"  Is  everything  right  ?  "  asked  the  hall  boy,  lin- 
gering. 


92  THE  EBIZ  TRAIN  BOY. 

Palmer  smiled,  drew  a  quarter  from  his  pocket 
and  put  it  into  the  ready  hand  of  the  young  man. 

"  You  take  American  coins,  don't  you  ? "  he 
asked  with  a  smile. 

"  Oh,  dear,  yes,  sir.     Thank  you !  " 

"  That  is  all  for  the  present.  If  I  want  anything 
I  will  ring." 

Wellington  scanned  the  valise  with  an  eye  of 
interest. 

"  So  that  holds  the  swag,  does  it  ?  "  he  asked. 

"My  dear  friend,  don't  use  such  vulgar  terms!  " 
said  Palmer  reproachfully.  "  It's  not  only  inele- 
gant, but  it's  imprudent.  Suppose  anybody  heard 
you  ?  " 

"  Your  reproof  is  just,  Palmer.  I  am  rather  a 
blunderer,  I  admit.  I  see  you  are  traveling  under 
a  false  name." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

Wellington  pointed  to  a  small  card  attached  to 
the  valise.  It  bore  the  name  of  Edmund  Law- 
rence. 

When  Palmer's  glance  fell  on  this  card,  a  quick 
glance  of  dismay  swept  over  his  face. 

"  That  isn't  my  valise  !  "  he  said. 

"  Not  your  valise  !  " 

"  No.  The  clerk  has  made  a  mistake.  I  must 
see  him  at  once  !  "  continued  Palmer,  in  an  agitated 
voice.  "He  may  have  given  my  valise  to  this 
man  Lawrence,  and  in  that  case  I  am  ruined. 
Stay  here  till  I  return." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  93 

Palmer  seized  the  satchel,  opened  the  door,  and 
descended  to  the  office  in  breathless  haste.  As  he 
dashed  up  to  the  desk  the  clerk  eyed  him  in  mild 
surprise. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Matter  enough !  You  have  given  me  the 
wrong  valise." 

"  Is  it  possible  ? 

"  See  here ;  this  belongs  to  party  named  Law- 
rence— Edmund  Lawrence.  Give  me  mine  at 
once." 

The  clerk  looked  troubled. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  can't,"  he  faltered  apologetically, 
"I  gave  Mr.  Lawrence  your  valise- — you  will  ob- 
serve that  they  are  very  much  alike— and  he 
carried  it  away  two  hours  since." 

Palmer  felt  ready  to  drop.  To  think  that  after 
all  his  careful  planning  everything  should  be 
jeopardized  by  a  hotel  clerk's  error. 

"  Do  you  know  what  you  have  done  ?  "  he  said, 
in  a  hollow  voice.  "  My  valise  contained  two 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  securities." 

"  I  am  terribly  sorry,  Mr.  Palmer,  but  I  don't 
think  you  will  suffer  any  loss.  This  Mr.  Lawrence 
looks  like  a  high-toned  gentleman.  You  can  see 
him  within  an  hour.  He  went  from  here  to  the 
International  Hotel  on  the  American  side  of  the 
Falls.  I  advise  you  to  go  over  at  once,  take  his 
bag  with  you,  and  exchange." 


94  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  MISSING  VALISE. 

That  he  was  imprudeut  in  trusting  himself  on 
the  American  side  Mr.  Grant  Palmer  was  well 
aware,  but  he  felt  that  he  was  in  danger  of  losing 
the  entire  proceeds  of  his  skillful  burglary,  and  to 
this  he  could  not  make  up  his  mind.  Besides  the 
danger  was  not  very  great.  Why  should  any  one 
suppose  that  an  ordinary  valise  contained  stolen 
property?  There  was  nothing  remarkable  about 
the  appearance  of  his  hand-bag.  Hundreds  of  them 
are  carried  every  day.  If  it  were  opened  by  a  dis- 
honest person,  of  course  it  would  be  doubtful  if  he 
ever  got  it  back,  but  the  clerk  at  the  Clifton  had 
said  that  this  Mr.  Lawrence  seemed  like  a  high- 
toned  gentleman,  who  would  of  course  scorn  to 
avail  himself  of  property  not  his  own. 

"Risk  or  no  risk!"  decided  Palmer,  "I  must  go 
over  and  reclaim  my  property." 

Leaving  him  to  cross  to  the  American  side  we 
will  follow  Mr.  Lawrence,  who  not  at  all  suspect- 
ing that  the  valise  he  had  received  from  the  clerk 
was   not   his   own,  repaired   to  the  International 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  95 

Hotel  and  engaged  one  of  the  best  rooms  in  the 
house,  for  he  was  a  man  of  ample  means.  He 
laid  his  valise  on  the  bed  and  went  downstairs. 
Later  in  the  day  he  went  out  to  take  his  custom- 
ary walk. 

Meanwhile  Fred  and  his  two  companions  walked 
about  in  a  leisurely  manner,  surveying  the  Falls 
from  different  points,  and  finally  went  to  Goat 
Island.  Here  they  sat  down  on  a  bench  and  sur- 
rendered themselves  to  the  fascinations  of  the 
scene. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  Niagara,  Fred?  " 
asked  Frank. 

"  It  is  even  finer  than  I  had  supposed,"  replied 
the  train  boy. 

"  Some  people  are  disappointed,"  said  Mr.  Fer- 
guson, "  because  they  expect  too  much.  The  Falls 
of  Montmorency  are  considerably  higher  but  not 
nearly  as  wide.  There  are  some  cascades  in  the 
Yosemite  Valley  of  over  a  thousand  feet  descent, 
but  they  are  only  a  few  feet  wide.  For  grandeur 
Niagara  excels  them  all." 

"  I  shouldn't  like  to  be  swept  over  the  Falls," 
said  Fred. 

"It  must  be  terrible  !  "  said  Frank,  with  a  shud- 
der. 

"  The  reality  is  worse  than  any  picture  drawn  by 
the  imagination.  Ten  years  since  it  happened  to 
me  to  see  a  poor  wretch  drawn  down  to  destruo- 
tion  over  the  cataract." 


96  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

The  boys  looked  eager  for  the  story,  and  he  pro- 
ceeded. 

"  I  may  state,"  continued  the  detective,  "  that  I 
was  indirectly  the  cause  of  the  tragedy.  A  default- 
ing bank  cashier  had  got  as  far  as  this  point  on 
his  way  to  Canada,  which  as  now  was  a  haven  of 
refuge  to  gentlemen  of  his  character.  I  was  close 
upon  his  track,  and  he  was  in  imminent  danger  of 
capture.  There  seemed  to  be  only  one  way  of  es- 
cape— crossing  the  river  above  the  Falls.  By 
some  means  he  obtained  a  row  boat,  and  being  a 
fair  rower  set  out  on  his  dangerous  trip,  exulting 
in  having  outwitted  me  and  made  his  escape.  I 
remember  very  well  how  he  stood  up  in  the  boat, 
and  with  a  smile  on  his  face  waved  me  a  mock 
adieu,  as  he  impelled  the  little  craft  out  toward 
the  middle  of  the  river. 

"He  was  a  strong,  sturdy  rower,  but  he  had 
no  conception  of  the  strength  and  rapidity  of  the 
current.  He  battled  manfully,  but  the  boat  im- 
mediately began  to  tend  towards  the  cataract  with 
continually  in  creasing  rapidity.  At  length  he  came 
to  realize  the  fate  that  certainly  awaited  him.  His 
smile  was  succeeded  by  a  look  of  despair.  I  can 
see  even  now  the  expression  of  terror  and  desper- 
ation, formed  upon  the  poor  fellow's  face  when  he 
saw  that,  struggle  as  he  might,  there  was  no  help 
or  deliverance.  I  am  sure  at  that  time  he  would 
have  welcomed  me  as  a  friend  and  savior,  and  gone 
with  me  willingly  to  prison,  if  only  he  could  have 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  97 

been  rescued  from  the  impending  doom.  Still, 
however,  he  plied  the  oars  with  desperate  vigor  and 
would  not  resign  himself  to  his  fate.  I  was  pain- 
fully excited,  and  in  the  poor  fellow's  peril  quite 
forgot  that  he  was  a  criminal  of  whom  I  was  in  pur- 
suit. The  end  came  speedily.  When  six  feet  from 
the  edge  of  the  cataract,  lie  dropped  his  oars,  threw 
up  his  hands,  and  an  instant  later  boat  and  man 
were  swept  down  into  the  gulf  below." 

"  Was  his  body  ever  found  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  Yes,  but  it  was  so  mangled  as  to  be  almost  be^ 
yond  recognition.  Many  a  time  when  looking  at 
the  Falls  I  have  pictured  to  myself  the  unhappy 
victim  of  that  day's  tragedy." 

"  I  suppose,"  said  Frank,  "  it  is  impossible  to  go 
over  the  cataract  and  live." 

"Not  if  all  stories  are  to  be  believed.  There  is 
a  boy  in  the  village  here  who  is  said  to  have  gone 
over  the  Falls,  and  yet  he  does  not  seem  to  have 
suffered  any  injury.  The  same  story  is  told  of  a 
cat,  but  cats  are  noted  for  having  nine  lives,  and 
therefore  the  story  is  not  so  surprising." 

After  a  little  more  chat  the  three  left  the  island 
and  returned  to  the  mainland.  The}'  had  hardly 
reached  it  when  a  telegraph  boy  approached  Mr. 
Ferguson  and  handed  him  a  dispatch. 

He  opened  it  and  read  as  follows  : 

Elmira,  Sunday. 

My  nephew,  Edmund  Lawrence,  is  at  Niagara.  Communicate 
with  him, 

Philo  Carver. 
7 


98  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  This  is  your  business,"  said  the  detective,  hand- 
ing the  telegram  to  Fred. 

"  Let  us  try  to  find  Mr.  Lawrence,"  said  Fred, 
after  reading  it. 

"  It  will  be  the  best  way.  Mr.  Carver  does  not 
mention  at  what  hotel  his  nephew  is  staying." 

"  Probably  he  does  not  know  *s 

"  Undoubtedly  you  are  right." 

"  What  will  you  do  ?  " 

"  There  is  only  one  thing  to  do — to  call  at  the 
principal  hotels,  and  look  over  the  registers.  We 
will  go  first  to  the  International." 

"  Very  well,  sir." 

Ferguson  scanned  Fred  with  a  smile. 

"  You  certainly  don't  act  like  one  under  sus- 
picion," he  said. 

Fred  smiled  in  return.  "  I  find  it  hard  to  rea- 
lize that  I  am  a  suspected  burglar,"  he  responded. 

"So  do  I.  Let  us  hope  that  you  will  very  soon 
be  cleared  from  suspicion." 

The  detective  and  the  two  boys  turned  their 
steps  toward  the  spacious  and  attractive  Inter- 
national. 

"  It  seems  a  little  ahead  of  the  Lynch  House," 
said  Fred,  "  but  probably  the  prices  at  the  latter 
suit  my  pocket  book-better." 

They  stepped  on  the  piazza,  and  went  into  the 
office. 

Mr.    Ferguson    opened   the  hotel  register,  and 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY,  99 

among  the  recent  entries  found  the  name  of  Ed- 
mund Lawrence. 

"  Is  Mr.  Lawrence  in?"  he  asked  the  clerk. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  he  came  in  from  a  walk  five  minutes 
since." 

"  I  will  send  up  my  card." 

The  detective  wrote  on  a  blank  card: 

OSCAR  FERGUSON, 

Detective. 
Important. 

This  was  handed  to  a  hall  boy,  who  took  it  up 
to  Mr.  Lawrence's  room,  and  returned  with  a  mes- 
sage that  the  gentleman  was  to  come  up  at 
once. 

"  I  think  }*ou  will  have  to  go  with  me,"  said 
Ferguson  to  Fred.  "4It  won't  do  for  me  to  give 
you  a  chance  to  escape." 

"  That  is  the  last  thing  I  have  in  mind,"  said 
the  train  boy;  "but  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  Mr. 
Lawrence." 

Edmund  Lawrence,  a  pleasant  looking  man  of 
middle  age  looked  somewhat  surprised  when  turn- 
ing his  eyes  toward  the  door,  he  saw  Ferguson 
enter,  followed  by  two  boys. 

"  You  wish  to  see  me  on  important  business  ?  " 
he  said  interrogatively. 

"Yes,  sir. 

"  And  you  are  a  hi.-  tive  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 


100  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"I  hope  that  I  have  not  fallen  under  any 
suspicion." 

"  Not  at  all.  Have  you  heard  that  your  uncle — 
Philo  Carver,  of  Elinira — has  been  the  victim  of 
a  burglary  ?  " 

"  No  !     Tell  me  about  it." 

The  detective  told  the  story,  and  Mr.  Lawrence 
listened  with  great  interest. 

"  Is  any  one  suspected  ?  "  he  asked. 

"A  party  has  been  arrested  on  suspicion,"  an- 
swered the  detective. 

"  Indeed  !  who  is  it?" 

"  This  boy .' "  answered  Ferguson,  pointing  to 
Fred. 

"  Impossible  !  "  ejaculated  Lawrence,  eying  Fred 
with  incredulous  amazement. 


THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY.  101 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MR.  PALMER   WALKS   INTO  A  TRAP. 

"  Nevertheless  it  is  true.  I  arrested  him  at 
the  Lynch  House  this  morning,"  affirmed  the  detec- 
tive. 

"  Do  you  believe  hin  guilty  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Law- 
rence, noting  with  perplexity  Fred's  open  coun- 
teance  and  tranquil  manner. 

"  No.     Still,  circumstances  are  against  him." 

"  Please  explain." 

"  I  found  your  uncle's  gold  watch  and  chain  in 
his  bundle." 

"Is  it  possible?" 

"It  is  quite  true,  Mr.  Lawrence,"  said  Fred 
calmly.  "  Mr.  Ferguson  will  allow  me  to  say  that  I 
was  as  much  surprised  as  he  to  find  them.  The 
bundle  was  a  small  one  and  only  contained  a  shirt 
and  collar  which  I  bought  at  Jersey  City  yesterday 
morning.  I  can  only  say  that  the  watch  was  not 
in  the  bundle  then." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Lawrence,  who  was  favorably 
impressed  by  Fred's  openness,  "you  have  some 
theory  as  to  the  manner  in  which  the  watch  got  into 
your  bag." 


102  TEE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  have.  I  had  for  a  room-mate  a  stran- 
ger— a  man  whom  I  only  met  last  evening  after  the 
train  arrived.  We  fell  in  with  each  other  on  the  way 
to  the  hotel.  We  were  obliged  to  room  together 
on  account  of  there  being  but  one  room  vacant 
at  the  hotel." 

"  What  was  the  man's  appearance  ?  " 

"  He  was  rather  tall,  thin,  and  dark  complex- 
ioned.  Though  it  was  late  he  did  not  goto  bed  at 
once,  but  sat  up  for  a  while  finishing  a  book  in 
which  he  was  interested.  When  I  awoke  in  the 
morning  he  was  gone." 

"  You  think  he  was  the  real  burglar  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  What  is  your  reason !  " 

"  Because  it  must  have  been  he  that  put  the 
watch  and  chain  in  my  bundle." 

"  With  a  view  of  diverting  suspicion  from  him- 
self?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  One  question  more.  When  were  you  in  Elmira 
last?" 

"  I  was  never  in  Elmira  at  all,"  said  Fred 
promptly.     "  I  have  never  been  so  far  West  before." 

"  What  was  your  object  in  making  your  present 
journey?" 

"  I  came  to  make  money,"  answered  Fred,  smil- 
ing. 

"That  answer  may  go  against  you,"  said  the 
detective. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  103 

"Not  when  I  explain  that  I  am  the  train 
boy.  I  have  usually  made  short  runs,  but  yesterday 
morning  the  superintendent  told  me  I  was  to  go  to 
Niagara,  and  gave  me  permission  to  stay  over  Sun- 
day to  have  a  chance  to  see  the  Falls.  I  began  to 
think  I  would  not  see  them,  after  all,  but  Mr. 
Ferguson  was  kind  enough  to  walk  out  with  me, 
and  let  me  have  a  view  of  them." 

"  Is  this  boy  also  a  train  boy  ?  "  asked  Lawrence, 
indicating  Frank  Hamblin. 

"  No ;  he  is  related  to  the  clerk  of  the  Lynch 
House,  and  was  kind  enough  to  come  up  to  my  room 
and  keep  me  company." 

"  Who  has  the  watch?  "  asked  Lawrence,  after  a 
pause.  "  I  have,"  answered  the  detective,  produc- 
ing it.     Lawrence  took  it  from  his  hand. 

"  It  is  my  uncle's  watch,  sure  enough,"  he  said. 
"  I  remember  it  a  dozen  years  since.  He  sent  to 
Europe  for  it." 

"  His  name  is  in  it,"  said  Ferguson.  "  But  for 
that  I  might  not  have  recognized  it  as  one  of  the 
articles  lost." 

"  Do  you  know  what  was  taken  besides?  " 

"  Money  and  securities,  I  am  informed,  but  to 
what  value  I  have  not  learned." 

"You  think  the  boy's  room-mate  has  them  in 
his  possession  ?  " 

"  There  seems  to  be  little  doubt  of  it." 

"  Where  do  you  think  he  is  ?  " 

"  On  the  Canada  side,  no  doubt." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  He  went  there  this  morning?" 

"Yes." 

"I  was  myself  at  the  Clifton  House  this  morn< 
ing,  and  I  now  remember  the  arrival  of  a  man 
presenting  the  appearance  of  this  young  fellow's 
room-mate.  He  is  probably  still  at  the  Clifton 
House." 

"  Then  he  is  beyond  my  jurisdiction,"  said  Fer- 
guson. 

"  Do  you  remember  what  luggage  he  had  ?  " 
asked  Lawrence,  turning  to  Fred. 

"  He  had  a  small  valise,  about  the  size  of  this," 
said  Fred,  his  eyes  resting  on  the  satchel  which 
Lawrence  had  brought  from  the  Clifton,  and  thrown 
down  carelessly.  "  Why,"  continued  Fred,  in  ex- 
citement, "  this  is  his  valise.  I  recognize  it  by  a 
lark  spot  on  the  side." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  said  Lawrence  sharply. 
"  This  is  my  valise." 

He  took  it  in  his  hand,  and  uttered  an  ejaculation. 

"  The  boy  is  right !     This  is  not  my  valise." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  this  valise  belongs  to  the 
man  who  roomed  with  you  last  night  ?  "  demanded 
the  detective. 

"  Yes,  I  feel  sure  of  it." 

"  Then — good  Heavens  ! — it  no  doubt  contains 
the  property  stolen  from  my  uncle.  Mr.  Ferguson, 
shall  we  be  justified  in  opening  it?" 

"T  will  take  the  responsibility,"  said  the  detec- 
tive. 


THE  EBIE  TBAIN  BOY.  105 

He  took  from  his  pocket  a  bent  wire,  and  dex- 
terously inserting  it  in  the  lock  opened  the  valise. 

All  gathered  eagerly  about  it,  anxious  to  ascer- 
tain whether  their  suspicions  were  correct. 

There  were  a  few  articles  of  underwear,  which 
the  detective  took  out  hastily  and  laid  upon  the  bed. 

"Ha,  here  we  have  it!"  he  exclaimed  trium- 
phantly as  he  drew  out  two  long  envelopes,  such 
as  are  employed  for  bonds  and  securities.  "  I  will 
take  the  liberty  to  open  them." 

One  envelope  proved  to  contain  two  one  thou- 
sand dollar  railroad  bonds.  The  other  contained 
two  U.  S.  Government  bonds  of  five  hundred  dol- 
lars each,  and  miscellaneous  securities  all  together 
amounting  to  three  thousand  dollars  more. 

"  A  very  clever  capture  on  my  word !  "  said 
Ferguson.  "  Really,  Mr.  Lawrence,  you  have 
beaten  me  in  my  own  line." 

"  I  am  entitled  to  no  credit.  It  belongs  to  the 
boy  who  identified  the  valise.  I  assure  you  the 
wrong  bag  was  given  me  at  the  Clifton  most 
fortunately.  I  am  content  to  lose  the  few  articles 
which  my  own  contained  for  the  sake  of  recovering 
my  uncle's  property.  It  really  seems  like  an  inter- 
position of  Providence." 

"  I  suspect  the  thief  will  feel  very  ill  satisfied 
with  the  exchange.  I  wonder  what  he  will  do 
about  it.'* 

There  was  little  chance  for  speculation  on  this 


106  THE  EBIE  TBAIN  BOY. 

point.  There  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  a  hall 
boy  put  in  his  head. 

"  There  is  a  gentleman  below  who  wishes  to  see 
you,  Mr.  Lawrence,"  he  said.     "  Here  is  his  card." 

Mr.  Lawrence  took  from  his  hand  a  card  on 
which  had  been  written  the  name 

F.  Grant  Palmer. 

"That  is  the  man,  Mr.  Lawrence,"  exclaimed 
Fred  in  excitement.  "He  has  come  for  his 
valise." 

"  Bring  Mr.  Palmer  up  in  about  five  minutes," 
said  Lawrence;  not  sooner." 

"  All  right,  sir  !  " 

"  Now  let  us  repack  the  valise,"  said  the  detec- 
tive. "  I  always  carry  a  large  bunch  of  keys  with 
me,  and  shall  probably  find  one  that  will  relock 
it." 

The  shirts,  socks,  and  other  articles  which  had 
been  taken  from  the  bag  were  carefully  replaced, 
and  Ferguson,  as  he  had  thought  probable,  found 
a  key  which  fitted  the  lock.  Then  the  valise  was 
laid  carefully  on  the  sofa. 

"  Mr.  Palmer  must  not  see  us,  and  particularly 
the  train-bo}^,"  said  the  detective,  "  or  he  will  think 
something  is  up.     Where  can  you  conceal  us?" 

"  There  is  a  bedroom  attached  to  the  apart- 
ment," said  Lawrence.  "  Go  in  there,  all  of  you, 
and  remain  till  I  call  you.     You  can  leave  the 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  107 

door  ajar,  as  you  will  probably  be  curious  to  hear 
what  goes  on  between  us." 

"  Capital !     Couldn't  be  better ! " 

Ferguson,  followed  by  the  two  boys,  entered 
the  smaller  room,  and  waited  impatiently  for  the 
entrance  of  Palmer. 

A  knock  was  heard. 

"  Come  in  ! "  Lawrence  called  out  lazily. 

The  door  opened,  and  F.  Grant  Palmer  entered, 
carrying  in  his  hand  a  valise  which  seemed  to  b« 
a  fac-simiie  of  the  one  lying  on  the  sofa.  Palmer's 
quick  eye  caught  sight  of  it  as  he  entered  the 
room. 

"  Pardon  me  for  my  intrusion ! "  he  said 
suavely,  "  but  I  believe  we  exchanged  valises — at 
the  Clifton — this  morning." 


108  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY, 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

palmer's  malice. 

**  Indeed  !  "  said  Lawrence,  in  assumed  sur- 
prise. 

"  Yes,  mine  was  left  with  the  clerk." 

"And  mine  also." 

"  And  he  doubtless  made  a  mistake  in  delivering 
them.  Upon  my  word  I  am  not  surprised,  as  they 
certainly  are  very  much  alike." 

"  So  they  are !  "  said  Lawrence,  taking  the  va- 
lise from  Palmer's  hand.  "  And  here  is  your  name 
too." 

"  It  is  quite  a  joke,  ha,  ha  !  "  laughed  Palmer, 
his  spirits  rising  as  he  saw  that  there  would  be  no 
difficulty  in  effecting  the  exchange.  "  I  suppose 
I  may  take  mine  ?  " 

"  You  are  quite  sure  it  is  yours?  "  Pardon  my 
asking,  but  you  are  a  stranger  to  me." 

"  Oh,  it's  all  right !  You  see  this  spot  on  my 
valise.  Outside  of  that,  there  is  really  no  differ- 
ence." 

"  You  are  willing  to  swear  that  the  valise  I 
brought  over  from  the  Clifton  is  yours  ?  " 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY,  109 

"Why,  of  course  ! "  returned  Palmer  in  surprise. 
"How  can  there  be  a  doubt  after  what  I  have 
said?" 

"  You  will  pardon  my  caution.  It  certainly 
does  seem  like  it,  but  I  don't  want  to  run  any  risk 
of  giving  it  to  the  wrong  party." 

"  Oh,  that's  all  right !  "  said  Palmer  impatiently, 
setting  down  Lawrence  in  his  own  mind  as  a 
crank. 

"  Probably  you  have  the  key  that  opens  it." 

"  Certainly." 

"  Then  do  you  mind  opening  it,  and  satisfying 
yourself  and  me  that  it  really  belongs  to  you  ?  " 

"  Surely  not,"  said  Palmer,  really  glad  of  an  op- 
portunity of  satisfying  himself  that  the  bonds  were 
safe. 

He  drew  from  his  pocket  a  bunch  of  keys,  and 
carefully  selecting  one  inserted  it  in  the  lock  of 
the  valise.  It  opened  at  once,  and  Palmer  eagerly 
scanned  the  contents.  The  under-clothing  had  been 
carefully  replaced,  and  he  did  not  discover  that  it 
had  been  disturbed,  but  when  he  lifted  it  to  look 
for  the  envelopes  containing  the  bonds,  his  face 
underwent  a  change. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  inquired  Lawrence, 
calmly. 

"  That  valise  has  been  opened,"  said  Palmer, 
angrily. 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  The  most  valuable  contents  have  been  removed. 


110  THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

I  hold  you  accountable  for  this,  Mr.  Lawrence." 
continued  Palmer,  fiercely. 

"  Please  be  a  little  more  explicit.  What  is  it  that 
you  miss  ?  " 

"  Two  envelopes,  containing  valuable  bonds." 

*'  This  is  a  serious  charge.  Are  you  sure  they 
were  in  the  valise  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  am.  I  put  them  there  myself,  and 
when  I  opened  the  valise  this  morning  they  were 
there. 

"  Wasn't  it  rash  in  you  to  leave  articles  of  such 
value  in  your  valise  ?  Can  you  name  any  of  the 
bonds?" 

"  Yes ;  there  were  two  Erie  mortgage  bonds  of  a 
thousand  dollars  each,  two  government  bonds  of 
five  hundred  dollars  each,  some  bank  bills,  and  mis- 
cellaneous securities." 

"  You  don't  mean  it  ?  And  you  placed  them 
there?" 

"I  did,  and  I  am  willing  to  swear  to  the  state- 
ment.    I  demand  of  you,  sir,  where  they  are." 

Mr.  Lawrence  rose  from  his  seat,  and  on  pretense 
of  examining  the  contents  of  the  open  valise,  man- 
aged to  get  in  between  Palmer  and  the  door. 

"A  man  in  my  employ  had  charge  of  the  valise 
for  a  short  time,"  he  said.  "  He  may  have  opened 
it." 

"  Where  is  he  ?  He  must  be  arrested  before  he 
can  get  away,"  said  Palmer  in  excitement. 

"  Ferguson !  "  called  Mr.  Lawrence. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  Ill 

The  detective,  who  had  of  course  heard  all  that 
had  passed,  stepped  out  from  the  inner  room.  He 
assumed  the  tone  of  a  servant. 

"Did  you  call,  sir?"  he  asked. 

"Yes." 

"  I  am  at  your  service." 

"  This  gentleman  here  claims  the  valise  as  his 
property.  He  says  that  some  bonds  have  been 
abstracted  from  it.     Am  I  right?" 

"  Yes,"  assented  Palmer,  with  a  fierce  glance  at 
the  detective. 

"  He  charges  me  with  having  opened  the  valise, 
and  taken  them." 

"  What  does  he  say  to  that?  "  demanded  Palmer 
in  excitement. 

"  It  is  true,"  said  Ferguson,  calmly. 

"  You  hear  ?  "  said  Palmer.  "  Give  me  back 
those  bonds,  you  scoundrel,  and  I  may  let  you  go 
free.  Otherwise  I  will  have  you  arrested,  and  you 
can  guess  what  will  follow.  Don't  let  the  fellow 
escape  !  "  he  added  quickly,  as  the  detective  edged 
towards  the  door. 

Lawrence  upon  this  went  to  the  door  and  locked 
it. 

"What  have  you  to  say  for  yourself?"  he  de- 
manded, turning  to  Ferguson. 

"  Only  that  I  am  a  detective,  and  that  I  am  spe- 
cially deputed  to  search  for  and  recover  the  bonds 
stolen  from  Philo  Carver  of  Elmira,  yesterday  after- 
noon.    I  have  reason  to  think  I  have  found  them.** 


112  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Duped ! "  exclaimed  Palmer,  sinking  into  a 
chair  in  dismay. 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Palmer,  it  looks  like  it.  There  is  one 
article  missing,  a  gold  watch  and  chain." 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  them." 

"  We  may  find  some  one  who  does.     Fred !  " 

At  the  summons  the  train  boy  stepped  out  from 
the  inner  room,  followed  by  Frank  Hamblin. 

At  sight  of  his  late  room-mate  Palmer  first 
showed  surprise,  and  then  anger. 

"  Did  you  put  up  this  job  on  me  ? "  he  asked 
fiercely. 

"  It  seems  that  you  put  up  a  job  on  me,"  said 
Fred,  quietly.  "  The  watch  was  found  in  my 
bundle." 

"  Yes,  that  was  to  be  your  share,"  answered  Pal- 
mer maliciously.  "  Gentlemen,  I  suppose  I  shall 
have  to  surrender  at  discretion,  but  I  am  not  the 
only  guilty  party.  That  boy  is  my  confeder- 
ate!" 

"  It  is  an  outrageous  falsehood !  "  burst  out  Fred 
indignantly. 

"  It  is  of  no  use  your  denying  it.  I  am  con- 
vinced that  you  have  betrayed  me,  and  I  will  have 
no  mercy  on  you.  Gentlemen,  arrest  me  if  you 
think  best,  but  arrest  him  too.  He  is  just  as  guilty 
as  I  am." 

"  You  assert  that  he  is  your  confederate  ?  "  said 
Lawrence. 

"  Yes," 


THE  ERIE  TBAIN  BOY.  H3 

"  How  long  have  you  known  him  ?  " 

"  Ever  since  he  was  born.  His  mother  was  a 
cousin  of  mine,"  Palmer  asserted  unblushingly. 

"  Do  you  believe  this,  Mr.  Ferguson  ? "  asked 
Fred,  quite  overwhelmed.  "  I  never  saw  this  man 
till  last  evening." 

"  If  he  is  your  cousin,  what  is  his  name  ?  "  asked 
the  detective,  not  answering  Fred's  appeal. 

"  Fred  Fenton,"  said  Palmer  coolly. 

"  He  has  got  my  name  right,  but  he  saw  it  in 
the  hotel  register,"  said  Fred. 

"I  presume  you  are  right,"  said  Ferguson. 

"  You  seem  interested  in  my  young  cousin,"  said 
Palmer  with  a  malicious  sneer. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  he  was  with  you  in 
Elmira?"  asked  Lawrence. 

"  Yes ;  he  stood  outside  to  warn  me  if  any  one 
came  along,  who  was  likely  to  interfere  with 
me. 

"  And  you  both  took  the  train  for  Niagara  after 
the  burglary  was  effected?" 

"  Exactly." 

Lawrence  was  staggered  by  the  positive  asser- 
tions of  the  culprit.  It  must  be  considered  that 
he  was  not  acquainted  with  Fred,  who,  so  far  as 
he  knew,  might  be  an  artful  young  adventurer. 

"  Why  didn't  you  take  the  boy  over  to  the  Can- 
ada side  with  you?" 

"  It  was  understood  that  he  was  to  come  over  later 
in  the  day.     We  passed  for  strangers  at  the  Lynch 

8 


114  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

House,  and  I  thought  it  might  excite  suspicion  if  we 
both  went  away  together  at  so  early  an  hour  in  the 
morning." 

"Mr.  Palmer,"  said  Fred  warmly,  "you  know 
perfectly  well  that  all  these  statements  are  false, 
and  that  I  never  met  you  or  had  anything  to  do 
with  you  till  last  evening." 

"  It  won't  do,  Fred  !  "  said  the  burglar.  "  You 
and  I  are  in  the  same  boat.  You  are  a  boy,  and 
will  probably  get  a  lighter  sentence  than  I.  But 
you  shouldn't  go  back  on  your  old  pal  like  this." 

"Do  you  believe  that  man,  Mr.  Ferguson?" 
asked  Fred  with  a  troubled  look. 

"  No,  but  I  shall  be  obliged  to  hold  you  till  I 
produce  him  in  court  to-morrow." 


THE  EBLE  TRAIN  BOY.  116 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

TWO  YOUNG  LADY  PASSENGERS  AT  ODDS. 

Ferguson  produced  a  pair  of  handcuffs  and 
pinioned  the  wrists  of  his  captive.  Palmer  pro~ 
tested  against  the  humiliation,  but  Ferguson  said 
quietly :  "  You  are  too  important  a  prisoner  for 
me  to  run  any  risks." 

"  Are  you  going  to  handcuff  him  f "  asked  the 
burglar,  indicating  Fred. 

"  No." 

"  Why  not  ?  Why  should  you  treat  him  better 
than  me?" 

"  I  don't  think  he  is  guilty ;  but  even  if  he  is  I 
am  not  afraid  of  his  running  away." 

"  You  are  deceived  in  him.  He  looks  innocent 
enough,  but  he  has  been  concerned  in  a  dozen 
burglaries." 

"I  hear  considerable  news  about  myself,"  said 
Fred,  "  but  the  truth  will  come  out  at  last." 

As  the  party  passed  through  the  streets  they 
naturally  attracted  considerable  attention.  Though 
a  criminal,  Palmer  had  for  years  evaded  arrest,  and 
he  felt  mortified  at  the  position  in  which  he  was 


116  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

placed.  He  reflected  bitterly  that  but  for  the  mis- 
take of  the  hotel  clerk,  he  might  be  at  ease  with  his 
booty  on  the  Canada  side.  As  it  was,  things  seemed 
to  have  worked  steadily  against  him,  notwithstand- 
ing his  clever  schemes.  A  long  term  of  imprison- 
ment stared  him  in  the  face,  instead  of  a  couple  of 
years  of  luxury  on  which  he  had  counted.  If  he 
could  only  involve  Fred  in  his  own  misfortune  it 
would  be  partial  satisfaction.  To  effect  this  he 
was  prepared  to  swear  to  anything  and  everything. 
Fred,  though  only  nominally  a  prisoner,  felt 
very  uncomfortable.  He  was  saved  from  the  dis- 
grace of  been  handcuffed,  and  was  consoled  by  know- 
ing that  not  even  the  detective  believed  him  guilty 
of  any  connection  with  the  burglary.  Still  he  was 
not  his  own  master,  to  come  and  go  as  he  pleased, 
and  it  was  not  certain  that  he  would  be  able  to  go 
back  to  New  York  the  next  day,  as  he  bad  planned. 
Circumstances  thus  far  had  worked  against  him, 
but  there  was  to  be  a  turn  in  the  tide.  As  they 
walked  through  the  streets  on  the  way  to  the  station 
house,  where  Palmer  was  to  be  locked  up  for 
safekeeping,  they  met  a  man  whose  dress  showed 
him  to  be  an  employee  of  the  Erie  road. 

"  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  Fred  eagerly,  "  that  is  the 
conductor  of  one  of  my  trains.  He  will  tell  you 
that  I  am  the  train  boy." 

The  conductor  had  just  discovered  and  recognized 
Fred. 

"  You  are  staying  over,  like  me,"  he  said. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  ±±f 

"  Yes,  I  have  permission." 

"  And  so  have  I.  I  have  a  brother  living  here, 
and  got  two  days  off.      Where  are  you  stopping?" 

"  At  the  Lynch  House.  Will  you  tell  this  gentle- 
man that  I  am  an  Erie  train  boy  ?  " 

"  Certainly  ;  but  why  is  that  necessary  ?  "  asked 
the  conductor  in  surprise. 

"  I  will  tell  you  later.  Mr.  Ferguson,  have  you 
any  questions  to  ask  ?  " 

"  Was  this  boy  on  your  train  yesterday  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Did  he  get  on  at  Elmira  ?  " 

"Certainly  not.  He  came  all  the  way  from  New 
York." 

"  It  is  false  !  "  said  Palmer. 

"  What  does  he  mean,  Fred  ?  "  asked  the  con- 
ductor. 

"  He  committed  a  burglary  at  Elmira  yesterday 
afternoon,  and  is  trying  to  make  out  that  I  was 
connected  with  it." 

"  There  he  tells  a  falsehood,"  said  the  conductor 
bluntly.  "  I  saw  you  on  the  train  through  the  entire 
journey." 

"  A  very  good  alibi,  Fred  said  the  detective. 
"  Mr.  Lawrence,  after  this  testimony  it  is  hardly 
necessary  for  me  to  hold  the  boy.  Are  you  satis- 
fied that  I  should  let  him  go  free  ?  " 

"  Entirely  so.  I  felt  from  the  first  that  he  was 
innocent." 

"  Then,  Fred,  you  may  consider  yourself  at  lib- 


118  TIE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

erty  to  go  where  you  please.  I  am  as  glad  as  you 
are  that  you  are  freed  from  suspicion." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  I  will  go  with  you  as  far  as 
the  lock  up." 

Palmer  scowled  at  him,  but  saw  that  it  was  use- 
less to  persist  in  his  charges  against  the  boy,  and 
walked  on  with  head  bent,  reflecting  bitterly  that 
he  had  not  only  lost  the  proceeds  of  the  burglary, 
but  his  freedom  besides.  He  could  see  now  that 
but  for  his  secreting  the  stolen  watch  and  chain  in 
Fred's  bundle,  he  would  probably  have  escaped 
scot  free.  As  for  the  present,  at  least,  we  shall 
have  nothing  more  to  do  with  F.  Grant  Palmer,  it 
may  be  briefly  set  down  that  after  a  speedy  trial  he 
was  found  guilty  by  the  jury  without  leaving  their 
seats.  He  was  sentenced  to  seven  years'  imprison- 
ment, and  is  now  serving  out  his  term  at  Auburn. 

During  the  remainder  of  his  stay  at  Niagara,  Fred 
used  his  time  to  advantage,  and  it  was  with  a  thank- 
ful heart  that  he  took  his  place  on  the  through 
train  to  New  York  the  next  morning.  Just  before 
starting,  Mr.  Lawrence  appeared  on  the  platform, 
and  handed  him  a  small  package  covered  with 
brown  paper. 

"Have  you  a  pocket  where  this  will  be  safe?" 
he  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Then  put  it  away,  and  open  it  when  you  ar- 
rive home." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  119 

Fred's  attention  was  taken  up  by  his  duties  as 
train  boy,  and  he  gave  no  thought  to  the  package, 
though  he  wondered  at  the  moment  what  it  con- 
tained. 

The  train  left  at  8 :  43,  and  was  not  due  in 
Jersey  City  till  10 :  10  P.  M.  At  Port  Jervis  a 
young  lady  came  on  board  dressed  in  a  very  plain 
and  quiet  manner.  In  his  rounds  through  the 
train  Fred  stopped  at  her  seat  with  a  pile  of  recent 
novels  under  his  arm  and  asked  her  to  buy. 

"No,  thank  you,"  she  answered  courteously,  and 
Fred  observed  that  her  face  was  very  sad.  If  she 
had  been  dressed  in  mourning,  he  would  have  sup- 
posed that  she  had  lost  a  near  relative,  but  there 
was  nothing  in  her  dress  to  justify  such  a  suppo- 
sition. Being  naturally  sympathetic,  Fred  from 
time  to  time  glanced  at  the  young  lady  passenger, 
wishing  it  were  in  his  power  to  lighten  her  sorrow, 
whatever  it  might  be. 

Sitting  next  to  her  was  a  young  lady,  handsomely 
dressed,  who  was  evidently  annoyed  at  the  near 
neighborhood  of  one  whom  she  considered  her 
social  inferior.  It  chanced  to  be  the  only  seat 
unoccupied  when  the  train  reached  Port  Jervis, 
and  the  young  lady  was  compelled  to  avail  herself 
of  it.  But  when  she  reached  the  seat  she  found  it 
occupied  by  a  fat  poodle  of  uncertain  temper5 
belonging  to  the  fashionable  young  lady. 

"May  I  take  this  seat? "asked  the  new  arrival. 


120  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Don't  you  see  that  it  is  occupied  ?  "  snapped 
the  dog's  owner. 

"  There  is  no  other  seat  vacant,"  said  the  new 
passenger  deprecatingly. 

"Then  you  had  better  go  into  the  next  car." 

As  the  young  girl  stood  in  the  aisle,  undecided, 
Fred,  who  had  heard  the  entire  colloquy,  and  was 
naturally  indignant,  made  up  his  mind  to  interfere. 

"  These  seats  were  meant  for  passengers — not 
for  dogs,"  he  said. 

"  Boy,  you  are  impertinent ! "  said  the  fashion- 
able young  lady  haughtily. 

"  Where  is  the  impertinence  ?  "  asked  Fred  com- 
posedly. "  Do  you  wish  this  young  lady  to  stand 
up  in  order  that  your  dog  may  have  a  seat  ?  " 

"  I  will  report  you  to  the  railroad  company  for 
insolence." 

"  Just  as  you  like,  but  I  will  remove  the  dog  in 
order  to  give  this  young  lady  a  seat." 

"Oh,  I  don't  want  to  make  any  trouble," 
said  the  new  arrival. 

"  Touch  my  dog  if  you  dare,  boy,"  said  the 
young  lady  with  a  flush  of  anger  on  her  face. 

Just  then  the  conductor  entered  the  car,  and 
Fred  called  him. 

"  Mr.  Collins,"  he  said,  "  this  young  lady  refuses 
to  remove  her  dog  from  the  seat  to  make  room  for 
a  passenger." 

"  Is  this  true,  madam  ?  "  asked  the  conductor. 

"  She  can  go  into  the  next  car." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  ROY.  121 

"  Are  you  paying  for  two  seats  ?  " 

's  No,"  snapped  the  lady. 

"  I  must  take  your  dog  into  the  baggage  car. 
It  is  against  our  rules  to  have  them  in  the  regular 
cars,  and  they  certainly  cannot  be  allowed  to  keep 
our  passengers  from  occupying  seats." 

"  Don't  you  dare  to  touch  my  dog !  " 

"Do you  go  to  Jersey  City?" 

"Yes." 

"  Then  you  can  call  for  the  dog  there,"  and  in 
spite  of  the  remonstrance  of  the  dog's  owner,  and 
the  growling  of  the  poodle,  the  conductor  removed 
the  animal  to  the  baggage  car,  much  to  the  secret 
satisfaction  of  the  passengers  who  had  observed 
with  dissrust  the  selfishness  of  its  owner. 

0 

"  I  am  indebted  to  you  for  this,"  said  the  young 
lady,  with  a  furious  glance  at  the  train  boy. 

Fred  did  not  think  himself  called  upon  to  make 
any  answer.  The  young  lady  scornfully  drew 
aside  her  dress  to  avoid  contact  with  her  unwel- 
come companion,  saying  audibly,  "  It  is  only  in 
America  that  servant  girls  are  allowed  to  thrust 
themselves  in  the  company  of  their  betters." 

"  I  am  not  a  servant  girl,"  said  the  new  pas- 
senger, "  but  even  if  I  were  I  have  paid  my  fare, 
and  am  entitled  to  a  seat." 

"  Do  not  address  me,  girl !  "  said  her  seat-mate 
haughtily. 

"I  thought  your  remark  was  addressed  to 
me. 


122  THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  I  am  forced  to  sit  beside  you,  but  I  don't  care 
to  converse  with  you." 

The  other  took  the  hint,  and  left  her  undemo- 
cratic neighbor  to  herself. 

Fred  was  naturally  a  little  curious  to  ascertain 
the  name  of  the  young  lady  who  had  made  herself 
so  disagreeable.  The  mystery  was  solved  in  a  way 
to  surprise  him. 

On  reaching  the  depot  at  Jersey  City  all  the  pas- 
sengers left  the  cars. 

The  young  lady  looked  about  her  evidently  in 
search  of  some  one  whom  she  expected  to  meet 
her. 

Greatly  to  Fred's  surprise,  his  cousin  Raymond 
Ferguson  turned  out  to  be  the  party  expected. 

"  Here  you  are,  sis,"  he  said.  "  Come  right 
along.     It  is  late." 

"  I  can't  go  yet.  My  poor  little  Fido  is  in  the 
baggage  car.  They  wouldn't  let  me  have  him  in 
the  car  with  me.  Go  and  get  him,  and  I  will  stay 
here." 

"  Gracious  I  "  thought  Fred,  "  that  must  be 
Cousin  Ferguson's  daughter  Luella.  Well,  I  can't 
say  I  am  proud  of  the  relationship." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  123 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

UNSATISFACTORY   RELATIONS. 

Miss  Ferguson  waited  till  her  brother  returned 
with  the  dog,  who  seemed  to  be  in  a  bad  humor. 
"  My  precious  Fido  !  "  exclaimed  the  young 
lady,  as  she  embraced  the  little  animal.  "Did 
they  put  him  in  the  dirty  baggage  car?"  Then, 
turning  to  Fred  who  stood  by,  she  said  spitefully* 
"  It  was  all  your  work,  you  impertinent  boy.  I 
have  a  great  mind  to  report  you  to  the  president 
of  the  road." 

Raymond's  attention  was  directed  to  Fred  by 
his  sister's  attack. 

"Fred  Fen  ton  !  "  he  exclaimed  in  surprise. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Fred  amused.  "  I  was  not 
aware  that  it  was  your  sister,  and  a  relative  of 
mine  when  I  took  sides  against  her." 

"  What  does  the  boy  mean  ?  "  demanded  Miss 
Ferguson  haughtily. 

"  It  is  Fred  Fenton,"  explained  Raymond  de- 
precatingly. 

"  Does  he  claim  relationship  with  me  ?  "  asked 
the  young  lady,  looking  disgusted. 


124  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"No,  Miss  Ferguson,  I  don't  claim  it,  though. 
I  believe  it  exists,"  said  Fred. 

"  A  common  train  boy  !  "  ejaculated  the  young 
lady.  "  This  is  altogether  too  much.  Raymond, 
let  us  go  !" 

As  they  left  the  station  the  other  young  lady 
passenger  who  had  listened  eagerly  to  the  conver- 
sation asked  in  a  tone  of  almost  painful  excite- 
ment, "  Is  that  the  daughter  of  Robert  Ferguson  ?" 

"  Yes,  do  you  know  him  ?  "  asked  Fred  in  sur- 
prise. 

"To  my  sorrow.  When  my  poor  father  died 
Mr.  Ferguson  was  appointed  executor  and  trustee 
of  his  estate.  It  was  not  large,  but  we  supposed 
it  would  amount  to  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  per- 
haps more.  Last  week  my  mother  received  a  letter 
from  him  stating  that  he  had  satisfied  all  claims 
against  the  estate,  and  that  only  seventy-five  dol- 
lars was  left.     This  leaves  us  well  nigh  penniless." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  Do  you  suspect  that  any  fraud 
has  been  practiced  upon  you  ?  " 

"  My  mother  feels  sure  of  it,  but  what  can  we 
do  ?  We  are  poor,  and  the  poor  are  always  friend- 
less," continued  the  girl  bitterly. 

"  Have  you  come  to  New  York  to  see  Mr. 
Ferguson  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  my  mother  wishes  me  to  ask  full  partic- 
ulars, and  to  appeal  to  him  to  do  us  justice.  I  fear 
it  will  be  of  no  avail,  but  it  is  the  only  thing  that 
we  can  do." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  125 

"  Pardon  me,"  said  Fred,  "  but  we  had  better 
be  getting  on  board  the  ferry-boat,  or  we  shall  have 
to  wait  till  the  next." 

"  Thank  you  !     I  hardly  know  what  I  am  doing." 

Fred  accompanied  the  young  lady  to  the  ladies' 
cabin,  and  sat  down  beside  her. 

"  Can  I  be  of  any  service  to  you  ?  "  asked  the 
train  boy.  "  It  is  late  for  a  young  lady  to  arrive 
in  New  York." 

"  I  supposed  we  snould  reach  the  city  at  nine. 
That  is  what  a  neighbor  told  me.  I  hardly  know 
where  to  go,"  she  added  timidly.  "  Can  you  recom- 
mend a  cheap  hotel — or  boarding-house  ?  " 

"  There  would  be  a  difficulty  about  obtaining 
admission  to  either  this  evening." 

"  Then  what  shall  I  do  ?  "  asked  the  girl,  looking 
distressed. 

"  I  think  you  had  better  come  home  with  me  for 
to-night.  Our  home  is  a  very  humble  one,  but 
mother  will  take  good  care  of  you.  To-morrow 
you  can  make  other  arrangements  if  you  desire." 

"  Oh,  how  kind  you  are  !  1  should  like  nothing 
better,  if  you  really  think  your  mother  w.ould  not 
be  annoyed." 

Fred  smiled. 

"  She  is  too  kind-hearted  for  that,"  he  said.  "  Just 
wait  till  you  see  her,  and  you  won't  feel  any  doubt." 

"  How  fortunate  I  am  to  fall  in  with  such  a  friend ! 
I  now  see  how  unwise  it  was  for  me  to  take  such  a 
late  train." 


126  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

They  walked  to  the  Cortlandt  Street  station  of 
the  Sixth  Avenue  Elevated  Road,  and  ascended 
the  steps.  In  spite  of  her  anxieties  the  young  lady 
felt  interested  in  the  novel  means  of  locomotion, 
and  asked  a  variety  of  questions  of  the  train  boy. 
At  Thirty-Third  Street  they  descended,  and  walk- 
ing a  short  distance  up  Broadway  turned  down  a 
side  street,  and  were  soon  at  the  door  of  Fred's 
modest  home. 

Mrs.  Fenton  was  sitting  up,  and  had  come  to  feel 
anxious. 

"  How  long  you  have  been  away,  Fred !  "  she 
said. 

"  Not  quite  three  days,  mother." 

"  But  you  were  never  away  before.  Bertie  and 
I  have  missed  you  very  much." 

"Mother,"  said  Fred,  "you  don't  see  that  I 
have  company.'* 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  the  widow  observed  the 
young  lady. 

"Who  is  it,  Fred?"  she  asked,  as  a  wild  and 
improbable  suspicion  entered  her  mind.  Could  it 
be  that  Fred,  who  was  only  a  boy  in  years,  had 
contracted  a  marriage  and  brought  his  wife  home  ? 

"  I  shall  have  to  ask  the  young  lady  to  introduce 
herself,"  said  Fred. 

"  My  name  is  Ruth  Patton,"  said  the  girl  timidly. 
"  I  hope  you  will  not  be  angry  with  your  son  for 
bringing  me  here.  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  city,  and 
indeed  I  did  not  know  that  the  train  arrived  so  late. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  EOT.  127 

Your  son  told  me  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  get 
into  any  hotel  or  boarding-house  at  this  hour,  and 
I  have  ventured  to  throw  myself  on  your  hospi- 
tality for  to-night." 

"You  are  heartily  welcome,"  said  Mrs.  Fenton, 
ready  to  smile  at  her  first  wild  suspicion.  "  Re- 
move your  wraps,  and  in  ten  minutes  I  can  offer 
you  a  cup  of  tea  and  some  eggs  and  toast.  You 
will  sleep  the  better  for  a  little  supper." 

"  You  are  a  wise  woman,  mother,"  said  Fred. 
"  You  have  guessed  what  I  was  longing  for." 

"  Let  me  help  you,  Mrs.  Fenton,"  said  Ruth, 
already  looking  more  cheerful. 

"  Then  you  may  toast  the  bread,"  said  Mrs.  Fen- 
ton. "  I  don't  dare  to  trust  Fred.  I  did  once  to 
my  sorrow,  and  the  toast  turned  out  to  be  as  black 
as  my  shoe." 

"  I  can  promise  to  do  better  than  that.  I  have 
plenty  of  experience." 

She  set  herself  to  the  task,  as  if  she  felt  quite  at 
home,  and  soon  they  were  able  to  sit  down  to  a 
plain  but  welcome  supper. 

"  Do  you  know,  mother,"  said  Fred,  between 
mouthfuls,  "  Luella  Ferguson  was  on  the  train." 

"  How  did  you  recognize  her  ?  Did  she  speak  to 
you?" 

Fred  smiled  roguishly. 

"  She  did.     Shall  I  tell  you  what  she  said  ?  " 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  it." 

"  She  said :  '  Boy,  I  will  report  you  to  the  rail- 


128  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

road  company  for  insolence.'     She's  a  sweet  girl, 
Cousin  Luella ! " 

"  But  you  were  not  really  insolent  ?  " 
Thereupon  Fred  told  the  whole  story,  and  his 
mother  agreed  with  him  that  Miss  Ferguson's  con- 
duct was  very  selfish  and  unlady-like. 

"  What's  more,  mother,  Miss  Patton  tells  me 
that  Cousin  Ferguson  has  cheated  her  mother  and 
herself  out  of  ten  thousand  dollars.  I'll  tell  you 
about  it  to-morrow.  It  is  just  striking  twelve,  and 
I  can  hardly  keep  my  eyes  open." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  129 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

RUTH  PATTON  CALLS  ON  MR.  FERGUSON. 

The  next  day  Ruth  Patton  confided  her  story 
to  Mrs.  Fenton. 

"  My  mother  and  I,"  she  said,  "  in  our  grief  for 
father's  death,  never  dreamed  that  it  would  bring 
us  destitution.  Though  he  never  furnished  us 
particulars  of  his  pecuniary  condition,  he  gave  us 
to  understand  that  we  would  be  comfortably  pro- 
vided for.  Robert  Ferguson  we  knew  to  have 
beei*  a  life-long  friend,  or  perhaps  I  should  rather 
say  acquaintance,  and  we  felt  that  as  a  trustee  he 
would  consider  our  interests.  We  were  thunder- 
struck when  a  letter  was  received  from  him  last 
week,  stating  that,  in  place  of  the  ten  thousand 
dollars  on  which  we  fully  counted,  a  pitiful  balance 
of  seventy-five  dollars  alone  remained  to  us." 

"  It  was  shameful !  "  said  Mrs.  Fenton  indig- 
nantly. 

"  Nearly  all  of  this  sum  will  be  swallowed  up  by 
small  debts  due  in  Port  Jervis.  You  will  under- 
stand now  why  I  have  come  to  lay  our  case  before 
Mr.  Ferguson,  and  see  if  he  cannot  give  us  more, 

9 


130  THE  ERIE  TRAItf  BOP. 

or  at  any  rate  find  me  employment,  for  on  me  now 
rests  the  duty  of  providing  for  my  poor  mother." 

"  I  wish  I  could  encourage  you,  Miss  Patton " 

"  Don't  call  me  Miss  Patton.  I  look  upon  you 
as  a  kind  friend,  and  hope  you  will  call  me  Ruth." 

"  So  indeed  I  will,  for  I  feel  a  strong  interest 
in  you,  Ruth." 

"  And  I  will  look  to  you  for  advice." 

"  Then  I  advise  you  to  call  this  evening  on  Mr. 
Ferguson,  and  find  out  the  worst." 

"Meanwhile  perhaps  you  can  direct  me  to  a 
cheap  boarding-house." 

"  You  will  stay  here  till  you  have  had  time  to 
form  your  plans." 

"  I  will  gladly  do  so  if  you  will  let  me  pay  you." 

"  All  in  good  time,  Ruth.  To-day  you  can  help 
me  if  you  will,  and  it  will  be  time  to  pay  board 
when  you  are  earning  something." 

It  was  not  till  he  sat  down  to  an  early  breakfast 
that  Fred  thought  of  the  package  handed  him  by 
Mr.  Lawrence  at  the  Niagara  Falls  station.  He 
opened  it  in  some  curiosity,  and  to  his  surprise 
discovered  a  roll  of  bills,  accompanied  by  this  note : 

To  Fred  Fenton, 

My  young  Friend  : — Though  I  have  not  yet  had  a  chance 
to  communicate  with  my  uncle  in  Elmira,  I  feel  authorized  to 
act  as  his  representative,  and  in  his  name  ask  you  to  accept  the 
inclosed  sum  as  an  acknowledgment  of  your  valuable  assistance 
in  bringing  about  the  recovery  of  the  securities  stolen  from  his 
house,  and  incidentally  as  a  recompense  for  the  annoyance  you 
experienced  in  being  yourself  suspected.    Your  conduct  has  been 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  131 

very  creditable,  and  I  feel  that  to  you  we  are  largely  indebted 
for  the  recovery  of  the  property  and  the  conviction  of  the  burglar. 
I  infer  that  you  are  mainly  dependent  on  your  earnings,  which 
are  probably  limited,  and  I  therefore  take  pleasure  in  handing 
you  a  substantial  reward  which  I  hope  will  be  of  service  to  you. 

Yours  sincerely, 

Edmund  Lawkence. 

Fred  counted  the  bills,  and  alike  to  his  surprise 
and  gratification  found  that  they  amounted  to  two 
hundred  dollars. 

"  Where  did  you  get  so  much  money,  Fred  ? " 
asked  his  mother,  entering  the  room  as  he  com- 
pleted his  count. 

"That  letter  will  explain,  mother,"  answered 
Fred  radiant  with  delight. 

"  We  are  indeed  rich  !  "  said  Mrs.  Fenton  joyfully. 
"  This  removes  all  anxiety  for  a  long  time  to  come." 

"  Yes,  we  can  afford  to  snap  our  fingers  at  the 
landlord." 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  going  to  carry  all  this  money 
round  with  you,  Fred.     You  might  get  robbed.' 

"  I  shall  deposit  it  in  the  Dime  Savings  Bank 
this  forenoon." 

"But  you  will  leave  before  the  bank  opens." 

"  No,  I  am  to  take  a  midday  train." 

At  ten  o'clock  Fred  went  to  the  Union  Dime 
Savings  Bank  fronting  on  Thirty-Second  Street, 
and  deposited  the  hundred  dollars  in  gold  left  him 
by  his  mining  friend,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  dollars  besides  from  his  recent  gift.  The  other 
twenty-five  he  handed  to  his  mother. 


132  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"Mother,"  he  said,  "you  need  a  new  dress,  and 
Albert  needs  a  new  suit.  Take  this  money,  and 
buy  what  you  think  best." 

"  I  can  go  a  little  longer  without  a  dress,  Fred." 

"  But  I  don't  want  you  to.  We  can  spare  the 
money  well  enough,  and  there  is  no  better  way  to 
spend  it." 

Mrs.  Fenton  made  no  further  opposition,  but 
during  the  day  asked  Ruth  Patton  to  accompany 
her  to  one  of  the  large  stores  on  Sixth  Avenue, 
where  the  necessary  purchases  were  made. 

In  the  evening  Ruth  set  out  for  her  call  upon  Mr. 
Robert  Ferguson. 

She  ascended  the  steps  in  a  state  of  nervous 
agitation,  for  she  felt  that  the  interview  was  of 
momentous  importance  to  her,  and  in  a  low  voice 
asked  the  servant  who  answered  the  bell  if  she 
could  see  Mr.  Ferguson. 

"I  will  ask,  miss,"  said  the  servant,  surveying 
her  plain  dress  with  some  disdain. 

"  A  young  lady  to  see  me  ?  "  said  Robert  Fer- 
guson in  surprise.  "  Are  you  sure  it  is  not  my 
daughter  she  wishes  to  see?  " 

"  No,  sir;  she  expressly  asked  to  see  you." 

Mr.  Ferguson  was  a  widower,  and  rather  vain 
of  his  personal  attractions.  Perhaps  the  young 
lady  might  have  been  struck  by  his  appearance. 

"  You  can  show  her  up,"  he  said  amiably,  and 
turned  to  catch  a  further  glance  in  a  mirror  just  op- 
posite.    He  straightened  his  necktie,  and  passed 


THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY.  133 

his  hand  softly  over  his  hair  to  make  sure  that  it 
was  smooth,  and  then  turned  to  the  door  to  catch 
the  first  glimpse  of  his  visitor. 

Nothing  thus  far  has  been  said  of  the  outward 
appearance  of  Ruth  Patton.  Notwithstanding  her 
anxious  face  she  was  unusually  pretty,  and  her  man- 
ners were  refined  and  ladylike. 

"  Mr.  Ferguson  ?  "  she  said  inquiringly,  pausing 
at  the  door. 

"  Come  in,  my  dear  young  lady !  "  said  Robert 
Ferguson  graciously.     "  I  am  pleased  to  see  you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  Pray  sit  down." 

"He  is  much  kinder  than  I  supposed,"  thought 
Ruth.     "I  must  have  misjudged  him." 

"  I  wrote  to  you  a  few  days  since,"  she  began. 

"  Indeed !  I  don't  think  I  can  have  received  your 
letter." 

"  But  you  answered  it,  sir." 

"  I  answered  a  letter  from  you  ?  What  then  is 
your  name  ?  " 

"  Ruth  Patton." 

"  Oh !  "  returned  Ferguson,  his  face  darkening. 
He  no  longer  felt  inclined  to  be  gracious,  for  he  had 
a  premonition  that  the  interview  would  not  be 
agreeable  to  him. 

"  My  mother  and  I  were  quite  overwhelmed  by 
the  news  you  sent  us.  We  had  no  idea  that  my 
father  left  so  little,  and  she  wished  me  to  come  on 
and  ask  for  some  particulars." 


134  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"  I  have  very  little  to  tell  you  beyond  what  1 
wrote,"  said  Mr.  Ferguson  coldly. 

"  My  father  led  us  to  think  that  we  should  be 
comfortably  provided  for." 

"  Many  men  have  very  vague  ideas  of  how  they 
stand.  Your  father  did  wrong  in  not  insuring  his 
life." 

"  He  did  not  think  it  would  be  necessary.  He 
thought  we  should  be  sufficiently  provided  for 
without  that." 

"  He  had  no  right  to  think  so,"  said  Ferguson 
irritably.     "  You  see  how  things  have  turned  out." 

"  But  what  can  have  become  of  all  the  money  ?  " 

"  I  hope,  Miss  Patton,  you  don't  think  I  have 
spirited  it  away  ?  " 

"No,  sir.  Don't  be  offended,  but  it  seems  so 
strange,"  faltered  Ruth. 

"  The  money  was  unwisely  invested.  A  large 
part  of  it  was  in  wild-cat  mining  stocks,  which 
were  not  worth  the  paper  they  were  written  on." 

"  Father  never  spoke  to  us  about  any  such 
investments." 

"  I  presume  not.  Most  men  keep  such  matters 
to  themselves.  Well,  the  upshot  is  that  but 
seventy-five  dollars  are  left.  I  presume  your 
mother  received  my  check  for  this  amount." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  that  is  all  I  can  do  for  you.  I  will  in 
time  forward  a  bill  of  particulars.  At  present  I 
am  busy." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  135 

At  this  moment  Luella  Ferguson  entered  the 
room.     She  recognized  Ruth  at  once. 

"  You  here  ?  "  she  said  in  haughty  surprise. 

"  Yes,  I  came  on  business." 

"We  do  not  want  any  servants.  Papa,  this  girl 
was  very  insolent  to  me  on  the  train  yesterday.  I 
hope  you  will  send  her  away." 

" 1  am  going,  Miss  Ferguson,"  said  Ruth  with 
spirit.  "  Your  father  was  the  trustee  of  my  poor 
father's  property,  and  it  was  to  ask  about  it  that 
I  came  here.     Good-evening." 

She  left  the  house  with  faltering  steps,  for  her 
last  hope  had  been  destroyed,  and  she  felt  keenly 
the  cruel  slight  of  Luella  Ferguson.  As  she  set 
foot  on  the  sidewalk  her  brain  reeled,  and  she  would 
have  fallen  had  not  a  young  man  who  was  about 
to  ascend  the  steps  sprung  forward  and  supported 
her. 


136  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  EOT, 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A    FRIEND    IN    NEED. 

Ruth  Patton  recovered  herself  by  a  great 
effort. 

"  I  won't  trouble  you  any  longer,  sir,"  she  fal- 
tered. "  I  think  I  can  do  without  further  assist- 
ance." 

"Excuse  me  for  doubting  ?t.  You  look  very 
weak.  Take  ray  arm.  There  is  a  drug  store  not 
far  away  where  I  can  procure  you  a  strengthening 
draught." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  so  much,"  she  mur- 
mured apologetically. 

"  It  is  no  trouble,  I  assure  you.  I  count  myself 
fortunate  in  being  on  hand  so  opportunely." 

Ruth  for  the  first  time,  encouraged  by  his  kind 
words,  stole  a  glance  at  the  stranger.  He  was  a  well 
made  and  unusually  handsome  young  man  of  per- 
haps twenty-seven.  His  careful  dress  and  some- 
thing in  his  manner  seemed  to  indicate  high  social 
position.  The  indication  corresponded  with  the 
fact.  Alfred  Lindsay  belonged  to  an  old  and  dis- 
tinguished New  York  family.  Though  his  means 
were  ample,  he  was  not  content  to  be  an  idler,  but 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  137 

after  careful  preparation  at  Columbia  College  and 
Law  School,  he  had  opened  a  law  office  in  the 
Mills  Building,  and  was  already  beginning  to  be 
known  as  a  young  man  with  a  future. 

His  wealth  and  high  social  standing  led  him  to 
be  considered  a  "catch,"  in  the  matrimonial  mar- 
ket. It  is  safe  to  say  that  at  least  half  a  dozen 
young  ladies  had  set  their  caps  for  him.  Among 
these  was  Luella  Ferguson,  and  there  were  those 
who  considered  her  chance  of  landing  the  prize  the 
best.  At  any  rate  Mr.  Lindsay,  who  had  been 
employed  by  the  elder  Ferguson  in  some  legal  mat- 
ter, became  a  frequent  caller,  to  the  great  sat- 
isfaction of  Luella  Ferguson.  It  may  not  be  con- 
sidered a  mark  of  taste  on  the  part  of  the  young 
man  to  have  fallen  a  victim  to  the  young  lady's 
arts,  but  in  his  presence  she  was  all  that  was  ami- 
able. She  was  not  without  a  certain  attractiveness 
of  face,  which,  had  it  been  joined  to  an  equally 
agreeable  disposition,  might  have  proved  a  good 
excuse  to  any  young  man  for  succumbing  to  her 
fascinations.  Never  for  a  moment  had  he  cause 
to  suspect  that  she  was  otherwise  than  she  seemed. 
Kind  and  sympathetic  himself,  the  absence  of  these 
qualities,  if  known  to  him,  would  have  rendered 
her  repulsive  to  him. 

He  conducted  Ruth  to  a  drug  store,  and  the  drug- 
gist administered  restoratives  that  soon  brought 
back  her  strength  and  color,  but  not  her  cheerful- 
ness. 


138  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"  I  am  strong  enough  now  to  go  on  my  way," 
she  said  rising.  "  How  can  I  thank  you,  sir,  for 
your  kindness  ?  " 

"  By  allowing  me  to  see  you  to  your  own  door," 
and  this  he  insisted  on  despite  Ruth's  protest. 

"  Would  it  be  indiscreet,"  he  asked,  when  they 
had  set  out  on  their  way,  "  to  ask  if  you  can  ac- 
count for  your  sudden  illness  ?  " 

"  I  had  a  shock,"  she  answered. 

"  Of  what  sort  ?  Are  you  willing  to  make  me 
your  confidant  ?  I  do  not  ask  out  of  curiosity,  but 
because  it  may  be  in  my  power  to  serve  you." 

"  I  have  so  few  friends  that  I  will  not  decline 
your  kind  offer." 

"  You  were  coming  from  the  house  of  Mr. 
Robert  Ferguson  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  do  you  know  him  ?  " 

"  Quite  well.     I  was  myself  going  there. 

"  Is  he  considered — an  honorable  man  ?  " 

"  Why,  surely.  What  can  lead  you  to  doubt 
it?" 

In  answer  Ruth  told  her  story.  The  young  law- 
yer listened  in  pained  surprise.  Strictly  honorable 
himself,  he  found  it  hard  to  believe  that  a  man  whom 
he  knew  so  well  could  be  guilty  of  the  meanness 
of  defrauding  two  women  whose  interests  had  been 
confided  to  him.  Yet  the  story  seemed  probable. 
Moreover,  even  had  matters  been  as  Mr.  Ferguson 
represented,  his  want  of  feeling  seemed  almost  as 
bad  as  absolute  dishonesty.     He  asked  Ruth  sey 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY,  139 

eral  questions  in  order  that  he  might  become  fully- 
possessed  of  all  particulars. 

"  This,  then,  was  the  cause  of  your  agitation  ?  " 
he  said  at  length. 

"  Not  wholly.  It  was  the  treatment  I  received 
from  Miss  Ferguson  that  affected  me  most." 

"  Miss  Ferguson  !  Do  you  know  Miss  Fergu- 
son ?  "  Lindsay  asked  quickly. 

"I  met  her  for  the  first  time  yesterday  after- 
noon." 

"  Where — may  I  ask  ?  " 

"  In  the  Erie  train.  I  entered  the  cars  at  Port 
Jervis.  She  was  already  on  board,  but  I  do  not 
know  from  what  point  she  had  come." 

"  I  think  I  know.  She  had  been  visiting  a  school 
friend  at  Binghamton." 

"  You  know  her,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes.  I  met  her  at  a  party  about  a  year 
since." 

"  If  she  is  a  friend  of  yours  I  will  not  say  any- 
thing to  her  disadvantage." 

"  But  I  want  you  to  tell  me  all  there  is  to  tell. 
I  have  a  special  reason  for  learning  all  I  can  about 
her.     You  say  she  treated  you  ill  ?  " 

"She  treated  me  cruelly.  She  took  offense  in 
the  cars  because  the  conductor  removed  her  dog 
from  a  seat  in  order  to  make  room  for  me." 

"  "Was  there  no  other  seat  in  the  car  ?  " 

"  None,  or  I  would  not  have  disturbed  her.     I 


140  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

did  not  like  to  stand  all  the  way  from  Port  Jervis 
to  New  York." 

"  Of  course  not.  Please  favor  me  with  the  par- 
ticulars." 

The  young  man  listened  attentively  while  Ruth 
in  simple  language — not  exaggerating  in  any  re- 
spect— told  her  story.  Young  Lindsay's  brow  con- 
tracted, for  he  felt  indignant  at  the  cold  selfishness 
shown  by  the  young  lady  who  had  hitherto  attract- 
ed him.  He  felt  that,  if  it  were  all  true,  he  could 
never  again  look  upon  her  even  with  ordinary 
friendship. 

"She  feigned  to  look  upon  me  as  a  servant," 
Ruth  concluded,  "  and  sharply  rebuked  me  for 
thrusting  myself  upon  her.  I  would  gladly  have 
taken  another  seat  had  any  been  unoccupied,  but 
the  car  was  full.  I  heard  from  the  train  boy  that 
it  was  on  account  of  an  excursion  to  Shohola 
Glen." 

"I  confess,  Miss  Patton"(Ruth  had  told  her 
name),  "  I  am  surprised  and  pained  by  what  you 
have  told  me.  I  never  knew  that  Luella — Miss 
Ferguson — had  such  unlovely  traits.  To  me  she 
has  always  seemed  kind  and  considerate." 

Looking  in  the  young  man's  expressive  face 
Rutli  Patton  felt  that  she  understood  better  than, 
he  why  Miss  Ferguson  had  assumed  to  be  what 
she  was  not.  She  was  not  surprised  that  Luella 
should  desire  to  make  a  favorable  impression  upon 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  141 

one  who  seemed  to  her  the  most  attractive  young 
man  she  had  ever  met.  But  of  course  she  could 
not  give  utterance  to  the  thought  that  was  in  her 
mind,  and  remained  silent. 

"  To  change  the  subject,"  said  Lindsay,  after  a 
pause,  "  may  I  ask  what  are  your  plans — if  you 
have  any?  " 

"  I  must  try  to  earn  some  money.  If — if  you 
would  advise  me." 

"  With  pleasure.  Let  me  ask,  first,  what  you 
can  do." 

"  I  used  to  do  some  copying  for  a  lawj^er  at 
Port  Jervis." 

"  You  are  used,  then,  to  copying  legal  docu- 
ments '?  " 

"  I  have  done  considerable  of  it." 

"  You  do  not  use  the  typewriter  ?  " 

"  No,  I  have  never  learned." 

Alfred  Lindsay  paused,  and  hi«  expressive  face 
showed  that  he  was  busy  thinking. 

"I  am  a  lawyer,"  he  said  at  length,"  and  I  have 
copying  to  do,  of  course.  Would  you  mind  calling 
upon  me    at  my  office  to-morrow  morning  ?  " 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  do  so,"  answered  Ruth, 
her  eyes  lighting  up  with  new-born  hopes. 

"  I  think  I  can  promise  you  something  to  do." 

"  Oh,  sir,  you  don't  know  how  your  words  cheer 
me.  This  is  where  I  live.  Thank  you  very  much 
for  your  kind  escort." 


142  THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"  Don't  mention  it.  I  will  expect  you  to-morrow," 
and  the  young  man  took  off  his  hat  as  respectfully 
as  if  Ruth,  instead  of  being  a  poor  girl  in  search  of 
work,  were  a  lady  in  his  own  set. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  EOT.  143 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

ltjella's  painful  discovery. 

M  What  business  had  that  girl  with  you,  papa?  " 
asked  Luella  Ferguson,  when,  stung  by  her  in- 
solence, Ruth  had  left  the  house. 

"She  told  you,"  answered  the  father  evasively. 

"  Is  it  true  that  you  were  trustee  of  any  property 
belonging  to  her  ?  " 

"  Well,  there  is  some  truth  in  it.  Her  father 
was  an  old  schoolmate  of  mine,  though  we  were 
never  intimate,  and  when  he  died,  considerably  to 
my  surprise,  he  asked  me  to  settle  his  estate." 

"  How  much  did  it  amount  to  ?  " 

"  After  paying  all  bills,  including  funeral  ex- 
penses, there  was  seveny-five  dollars  left." 

"  A  fine  estate,  upon  my  word !  "  said  Luella 
with  a  scornful  laugh.  "  Really,  the  girl  is  a  great 
heiress." 

"She  thought  she  ought  to  have  been.  What 
do  you  think  she  and  her  mother  expected  ?  " 

"  Something  amusing,  no  doubt." 


144  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"They  thought  that  they  would  realize  ten 
thousand  dollars,  and  be  completely  provided  for." 

"  They  must  be  fools  !  " 

"  We  won't  use  so  harsh  an  expression.  Women 
know  very  little  about  business." 

"  Some  women,  papa.  You  will  please  make  an 
exception  in  my  case." 

"  Well,  I  admit,  Luella,"  said  her  father  com- 
placently, "  you  do  seem  to  have  a  sharp  eye  to 
your  own  interests." 

"  Why  shouldn't  I  ?  I  come  honestly  by  it, 
papa,  don't  I  ?  " 

"  Well,  perhaps " 

"  You  have  been  pretty  sharp  yourself,  eh,  papa  ? 
I  fancy  you  have  a  pretty  good  sum  of  money 
salted  down — that's  the  term,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  have  something,  but  I  don't  care  to 
make  a  boast  of  it.  There  would  be  plenty  who 
would  want  a  share — for  instance,  Mrs.  Fenton.'' 

"  That  reminds  me ;  her  son  is  a  train  boy  on 
the  Erie  road." 

"  Did  you  see  him?  " 

"  Yes,  he  made  himself  very  obnoxious  by  his 
impertinent  intermeddling.  He  insisted  upon  my 
removing  my  poor  Fido,  in  order  to  give  that  girl 
a  seat." 

"  What  concern  was  it  of  his  ?  " 

"  None  at  all,  but  he  made  such  a  fuss  that  I  had 
to  do  it." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  145 

"  You  need  not  have  done  so.     The  train  boy 

has  no  authority  in  such  matters." 

"  He  called  the  conductor,  and  he  took  my  poor 
darling  into  the  baggage  car.  Papa,  can't  you  get 
him  discharged  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  influence  with  the  Erie  officials,  my 
dear.  Besides,  if  I  deprive  him  of  his  chance  to 
make  a  living,  he  and  his  mother  will  be  impor- 
tuning me  for  money.  Better  leave  well  enough 
alone  ! " 

This  was  the  sort  of  argument  that  weighed 
with  Luella  Ferguson.  She  was  meanness  per- 
sonified, and  would  rather  save  money  than  be 
revenged  upon  Fred. 

"  Do  you  think  you  will  have  any  more  trouble 
with  this  girl  who  called  to-night  ?  " 

"  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  she  called  again  to 
ask  me  to  help  her  to  employment." 

"If  she  does,  advise  her  to  go  out  to  service. 
She  could  get  a  position  as  chambermaid  without 
difficulty." 

"  Remember,  Luella,  that  in  her  own  town  she 
has  held  a  good  social  position.  She  may  have  too 
much  pride." 

"  Then  let  her  starve !  "  said  Luella,  harshly. 
"  It  is  preposterous  for  a  pauper  to  be  proud." 

"  She  is  not  exactly  a  pauper,"  said  Mr.  Fergu- 
son, who  was  not  quite  so  venomous  in  his  hatred 
as  his  daughter. 

10 


146  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  I  forgot — she  has  a  fortune  of  seventy-five  dol- 
lars.    Will  you  do  me  a  favor?  " 

"What  is  it?" 

"  If  the  girl  comes  again,  turn  her  over  to  me." 

"  Very  well,  my  dear.  I  shall  be  glad  to  do  so. 
It  will  relieve  me  from  embarrassment." 

"  I  shall  feel  no  embarrassment.  I  shall  rather 
enjoy  it." 

"  By  the  way,  Luella,  how  are  you  getting  on 
with  young  Lindsay  ?  " 

Luella  flushed  a  little,  and  a  softer  light  shone 
in  her  eyes.  She  had  very  little  heart,  but  such  as 
she  had  was  given  to  Alfred  Lindsay.  At  first  at- 
tracted by  his  wealth  and  social  position — for  on  his 
mother's  side  he  belonged  to  one  of  the  Knicker- 
bocker families — she  had  ended  by  really  falling 
in  love  with  him.  In  his  company  she  appeared 
at  her  best.  Her  amiable  and  attractive  manners 
were  not  wholly  assumed,  for  the  potent  spell  of 
love  softened  her  and  transformed  her  from  a  hard, 
cynical  selfish  girl  to  a  woman  seeking  to  charm 
one  who  had  touched  her  heart. 

"  He  comes  to  see  me  very  often,  papa,"  she 
answered,  coyly. 

"And  he  seems  impressed?  " 

"  I — think  so,"  said  Luella,  lowering  her  eyes, 
while  a  gratified  smile  lighted  up  her  face. 

"He  has  never  actually  proposed?  "  asked  Fer- 
guson eagerly. 


THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY.  147 

"  Well,  not  exactly,  but  from  his  manner  I  think 
he  will  soon." 

"  I  hope  so,  Luella.  There  is  no  one  whom  I 
would  more  prefer  for  a  son-in-law." 

"  I  shall  not  say  him  nay,  papa." 

"  Of  course  not.  He  is  rich  and  of  distin- 
guished family.  He  will  make  a  very  suitable  mate 
for  you." 

"  Yes,  papa,  I  appreciate  that,  but  you  too  are 
rich  and  of  high  social  position." 

"  Well,  daughter,  I  stand  fairly,  but  as  to  family, 
I  can't  boast  much.  My  father — your  grandfather 
i — was  a  village  blacksmith.  I  have  never  told  you 
that  before." 

"  Horrors,  papa  ! "  exclaimed  Luella.  "  You 
cannot  mean  this  ?  " 

"  It  is  sober  fact.  I  have  never  told  you,  for  I 
knew  it  would  shock  you." 

"  Does  any  one  know  it  in  our  circle  ?  " 

"  No.  Indeed,  the  only  one  who  is  likely  to 
have  any  knowledge  of  it  is  Mrs.  Fenton  and  her 
son." 

«  The  train  boy ! " 

«  Yes." 

"  If  it  should  get  out  I  should  die  of  mortifi- 
cation." 

"Neither  you  nor  I  are  likely  to  mention  it. 
I  only  referred  to  it  to  show  the  advantages 
of  marrying  a  man    of  high  lineage  like  Alfred 


148  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

Lindsay.  I  have  money,  but  I  have  never  been 
able  to  get  into  the  inner  circle  to  which  the 
Lindsays  belong.  Money  will  buy  much,  but  it 
won't  buy  that.  I  hope  you  will  do  your  best  to 
bring  the  young  man  to  the  point." 

"  I  will  manage  it,  papa,"  said  Luella  compla- 
cently, "  Do  you  know  I  have  made  up  my  mind 
to  go  to  Europe  on  a  wedding  trip  ?  " 

"  If  Lindsay  consents." 

"  He  will  do  whatever  I  wish.  I  expect  him  to 
call  his  evening." 

"Do  you?" 

"Yes,  and — papa,  something  might  happen," 
added  Luella  playfully. 

"  I  hope  so,  sincerely,  my  dear." 

"  Mind,  if  he  comes  to  you,  not  a  word  about 
the  blacksmith !  I  wish  you  hadn't  told  me." 

"  Forget  it  then,  Luella.  We  will  keep  it  a 
profound  secret." 

Luella  left  her  father's  presence  with  a  smile 
upon  her  face.  It  was  already  eight  o'clock.  Half 
an  hour  passed,  and  she  became  anxious.  Fif- 
teen minutes  more  slipped  by,  and  still  the  wel- 
come ring  at  the  bell  was  not  heard.  She  was 
ready  to  cry  with  vexation,  for  she  had  made  up 
her  mind  to  lead  the  young  man  to  a  declaration 
that  very  evening  if  it  were  a  possible  thing. 

She  summoned  a  servant. 

"  Jane,"  she  said,  "  Mr.  Lindsay  has  not  called 
this  evening,  has  he  ?  " 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  149 

"  No,  miss.  If  he  had  of  course  I  would  tell 
you." 

"  I  thought  perhaps  there  might  have  been  some 
mistake.  If  he  should  come — and  it  isn't  very  late 
yet — let  me  know  at  once." 

"  Surely  I  will,  Miss  Luella." 

"  She's  dead  gone  on  that  man,"  said  Jane  to 
herself.  "  Well,  I  don't  wonder,  for  he  is  awfully 
handsome,  that's  a  fact.  But  my !  if  he  could 
only  see  her  in  some  of  her  tantrums,  he'd  open 
his  eyes.  He  thinks  she's  an  angel,  but  I  know 
her  better." 

Several  days  passed  and  still  Alfred  Lindsay  did 
not  call.  Luella  became  alarmed.  Was  she  losing 
her  hold  upon  him  ?  She  was  considering  whether 
it  would  be  proper  to  write  a  letter  to  the  young 
lawyer  at  his  office,  when  she  chanced  to  make  a 
very  painful  discovery. 

About  five  o'clock  on  Saturday  afternoon  she  was 
coming  out  of  Lord  &  Taylor's  up  town  store 
when  in  a  plainly  dressed  girl  who  was  just  passing 
she  recognized  Ruth  Patton.  Curiosity  led  her 
to  address  Ruth. 

"  So  you  are  still  in  the  city  ?  "  she  said  abruptly. 

"  Yes,  Miss  Ferguson,"  answered  Ruth  calmly. 

"  Of  course  you  are  very  poor.  I  think  I  can 
get  you  a  place  as  chambermaid  in  the  family  of 
one  of  my  friends." 

"  Thank  you,  but  I  have  a  position  I  like  better." 


150  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  What  sort  of  a  position  ?  " 

'•  I  am  in  a  lawyer's  office,  copying  legal  papers." 

"  Indeed !     I  suppose  you  are  poorly  paid." 

"  I  receive  ten  dollars  a  week." 

"That  is  ridiculously  high  pay.  Of  course  you 
don't  earn  it." 

"  Mr.  Lindsay  fixed  the  salary — I  did  not." 

"  Lindsay  !  "  gasped  Luella,  "  what  Lindsay  ?  " 

11  Alfred  Lindsay.  He  has  his  office  in  the  Mills 
Building." 

Ruth  Patton  passed  on,  having  unconsciously 
given  poignant  anguish  to  the  haughty  Miss  Fer- 
guson. 

"Where  could  she  have  met  Alfred?"  Luella 
asked  herself  with  contracted  brow.  "  I  must  get 
him  to  discharge  her.  I  had  no  idea  she  was  such 
an  artful  minx." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  151 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

MISS  FERGUSON  WRITES  A  NOTE. 

It  was  indeed  true  that  Ruth  Patton  had  found 
employment  at  ten  dollars  a  week.  Her  services 
were  scarcely  worth  that  sum  to  her  employer, 
but  Alfred  Lindsay  was  not  only  rich  but  generous, 
and  was  glad  to  believe  Ruth's  anxiety  by  insuring 
her  a  comfortable  income.  She  was  still  at  Mrs. 
Fenton's  rooms,  being  now  able  to  conrtibute  her 
share  of  the  expense  incurred.  The  widow  was 
willing  to  accept  only  three  dollars  per  week,  so 
that  Ruth  had  the  satisfaction  of  sending  a  weekly 
remittance  to  her  mother.  She  was  very  grateful 
for  the  change  in  her  circumstances,  and  notwith- 
standing the  disappointment  about  her  father's 
estate,  felt  that  there  was  reason  to  hope. 

Two  days  later  Alfred  Lindsay  found  a  letter 
upon  his  desk  addressed  in  a  delicate  female  hand 
which  he  did  not  recognize. 

"  A  lady  client !  "  he  thought.  What  does  she 
want — a  divorce  ?  " 


152  TSE  EBIE  TBAIX  BOY. 

When  he  opened  the  envelope  he  read  the  follow* 
ing  note,  written  on  a  highly  perfumed  sheet. 

Mx  dear  Mr.  Lindsay  :  Pray  don't  be  shocked  at  my 
boldness  in  writing  you,  but  it  is  so  long  since  you  have  called 
that  papa  suggests  sickness  as  a  possible  cause.  I  do  hope 
that  this  is  not  what  has  kept  you  away.  I  confess  that  I 
have  missed  you  very  much.  I  have  so  enjoyed  our  con- 
versations. You  are  not  like  the  fashionable  butterflies  of 
whom  we  meet  so  many  in  society.  One  must  tolerate  them, 
of  course,  but  it  is  a  comfort  to  meet  a  man  who  can  talk 
intelligently  about  books  and  art.  Apropos,  I  have  a  new 
collection  of  etchings  that  I  want  to  show  you.  "Won't  you 
name  an  evening  when  you  will  call,  as  I  want  to  be  certain 
to  be  at  home  when  you  really  do  come.  I  should  be  des- 
olated, as  the  French  say,  to  be  absent. 

Now  don't  fail  to  answer  this  screed.  Otherwise  I  shall 
certainly  manage  to  have  some  law  business  that  will  give 
me  an  excuse  for  calling  at  your  office. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Ltjelda  Ferguson. 


Alfred  Linsay  read  this  note  slowly,  and  there 
was  a  smile  upon  his  face,  for  he  fully  appreciated 
Luella's  motive  in  writing  it.  A  fortnight  since 
he  would  have  been  charmed,  but  his  feelings  with 
respect  to  Miss  Ferguson  had  undergone  a  change. 
The  revelation  of  her  real  character  had  shocked 
him,  and  served  offectually  to  kill  his  growing  at- 
tachment. Beauty  of  face  could  not  make  up  for 
deformity  of  character.  On  the  other  hand,  he 
was   beginning   to   be   attracted   by   Ruth.      She 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  153 

lacked  Luella's  regular  features  and  cold,  classic 
beauty,  but  her  sweet  face  revealed  a  disposition 
warm,  kindly,  and  sympathetic ;  and  when  her 
deep,  serious  eyes  rested  upon  him,  he  felt  that 
she  was  far  more  attractive  than  her  showy  rival. 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?  "  he  asked  himself  as  his 
ej^es  fell  upon  the  note.  He  must  of  course  answer 
it,  but  should  he  accept  the  invitation  ?  Upon  the 
whole  he  decided  to  do  so.  There  was  no  reason 
which  he  could  allege  for  declining,  and,  though  it 
would  be  to  sacrifice  an  evening,  he  would  go  armed 
against  Luella's  fascinations  by  the  knowledge  he 
had  acquired.  He  drew  out  a  sheet  of  paper  from 
a  drawer  in  his  desk,  and  wrote  as  follows  : 

My  Dear  Miss  Ferguson  :  As  I  am  writing  in  my  office, 
you  will  understand  and  excuse  the  unfashionable  business 
paper  which  I  am  using.  I  am  flattered  to  find  that  you  miss 
me,  and  still  more  at  the  reason  you  assign  for  preferring  my 
company  to  that  of  the  gilded  young  men  who  worship  at  your 
shrine.  I  am  but  '  a  plain,  blunt  man,'  as  Shakspeare  has  it, 
and  cannot  vie  with  them  in  compliment.  I  shall  no  doubt  find 
pleasure  in  examining  the  etchings  which  you  hold  out  as  an 
inducement  to  call.  I  will  name  Thursday  evening,  but  should 
you  have  a  previous  engagement,  don't  scruple  to  notify  me,  as 
1  can  easily  postpone  my  visit  to  another  date. 

Yours  sincerely, 

Alfred  Lindsay. 

Luella  Ferguson  read  this  note  with  mingled 
pleasure  and  disappointment. 

"  It  is  very  cold,"  she  murmured,  "  almost  as  if 


164  THE  XEIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

I  were  an  ordinary  acquaintance.  I  suppose  men 
feel  hampered  when  they  try  to  express  themselves 
upon  paper.  I  will  not  believe  that  he  is  less 
friendly,  or  admires  me  less  than  he  used  to  do. 
At  any  rate  he  is  coming,  and  I  must  make  myself 
as  fascinating  as  possible.  I  have  a  chance  to  win 
him,  and  I  mean  to  do  it." 

"  Papa,"  said  Luella  on  Thursday  morning,  "  Mr. 
Lindsay  will  call  here  this  evening." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  Luella.  I  hope  he  is  com- 
ing— on  business." 

"I  don't  know,"  she  answered  demurely. 

"  You  know  my  wishes  on  the  subject?" 

"  They  accord  with  mine,  papa." 

When  Alfred  Lindsay  was  announced,  he  found 
Luella  resplendent  in  a  new  dress,  and  bedecked 
with  jewels.  She  intentionally  made  herself  as 
attractive  as  possible. 

"  Really,  Miss  Ferguson,  you  are  radiant  to- 
night," he  said. 

"Do  you  think  so?  "  she  asked. 

"  There  is  no  doubt  of  it.  Are  you  expecting 
other  company  ?  " 

"  Only  yourself." 

"  Then  I  am  to  consider  it  a  special  compliment 
to  me." 

"  If  you  like." 

"  Then  I  must  express  my  acknowledgments." 

Yet  as  he  spoke,  his  thoughts  reverted  to  Ruth 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  156 

Patton,  with  her  lack  of  ornament  and  severe  sim- 
plicity, and  he  felt  that  her  image  was  to  him  the 
more  attractive  of  the  two.  It  was  fortunate  for 
Miss  Ferguson's  peace  of  mind  that  she  could  not 
read  his  thoughts. 

"  Now,  you  bad  boy,"  she  said  playfully,  "  you 
must  tell  me  why  you  have  stayed  away  so  long." 

"  Perhaps  to  see  if  you  would  miss  me." 

"  I  have  missed  you — so  much." 

"  That  is  certainly  a  compliment  to  me  as  a 
conversationalist.  As  you  wrote  in  your  note 
you  appreciate  my  sensible  conversation  I  am 
afraid  you  overestimate  me.  I  have  a  friend  who 
is  really  brilliant,  and  can  converse  eloquently 
upon  any  subject.     May  I  bring  him  with  me?" 

"  Who  is  he  ?  "  asked  Luella  hesitatingly. 

"Professor  Grimes." 

"What,  the  lecturer?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Why  he  is  grotesque  in  appearance.  I  heard 
him  lecture  once,  and  thought  he  wore  a  mask,  so 
ugly  was  his  face." 

"  You  admit  his  eloquence,  however?" 

"  Yes ;  but  from  such  a  mouth  even  pearls  cease 
to  attract.  Pray  don't  bring  him  !  He  positively 
makes  me  shudder,  I  assure  you." 

Luella  did  not  like  the  turn  the  conversation  had 
taken.  There  seemed  no  chance  for  sentiment, 
and  she  wanted  to  bring  all  her  fascinations  to  bear. 


156  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"You  have  some  etchings  to  show  me,  Miss 
Ferguson  ?  "  said  Lindsay,  after  a  pause. 

"  Yes ;  but  I  want  to  show  them  to  you  myself. 
You  will  have  to  come  and  sit  beside  me." 

"  Willingly,"  answered  Alfred,  but  his  tone  was 
conventional,  and  lacked  the  warmth  it  had  for- 
merly shown. 

Together  they  looked  over  the  collection.  Luella 
saw,  however,  to  her  mortification,  that  Lindsay 
was  calm  and  cold.  It  seemed  clear  that  she  had 
lost  her  power  over  him.  What  could  be  the  rea- 
son? 

"  Can  it  be  that  girl,  Ruth  Patton  ?  "  she  asked 
herself.  "Is  it  she  who  is  drawing  Alfred  Lindsay 
away  from  me  ?  I  must  warn  him  against  her." 

"By  the  way,  haven't  you  a  copyist  in  your 
office  named  Ruth  Patton?" 

"  How  did  you  know  ?  "  asked  Lindsay. 

"  I  met  her  the  other  day  on  Broadway.  Per- 
haps you  don't  know,  but  she  is  an  humble  prote'ge'e 
of  my  father's." 

"A  protegee?" 

"  Yes ;  papa  has  been  very  kind  to  the  family. 
He  took  charge  of  their  affairs  on  the  death  of  her 
father,  and,  though  there  was  not  enough  property 
to  pay  the  debts,  he  paid  them  all,  and  sent  a 
check  to  Mrs.  Patton  besides." 

"  That  was  certainly  considerate  !  "  said  Lindsay ; 
but  from  his  tone  it  could  not  be  discovered  if  he 
were  speaking  in  earnest  or  ironically. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  157 

"  As  you  say,  it  was  considerate,  but  this  Ruth 
is  very  ungrateful.  She  was  actually  ridiculous 
enough  to  think  they  ought  to  have  had  a  fortune, 
and  I  believe  blames  papa  for  the  way  things  have 
come  out." 

Alfred  Lindsay  listened  politely,  but  did  not 
express  an  opinion. 

"  She  is  a  very  good  copyist,"  he  said. 

"I  am  glad  she  is  earning  a  living,  though  I 
think  it  would  have  been  better  for  her  to  remain 
in  the  country,  don't  you  ?  " 

44  Really,  I  can't  judge  for  others,  not  knowing 
all  the  circumstances." 

"The  girl  is  ill  bred, I  am  sorry  to  say.  She 
treated  me  rudely  in  the  cars." 

"  She  gives  me  no  cause  of  complaint,"  said 
Lindsay  shortly.  He  understood  and  despised 
Luella's  attempts  to  prejudice  him  against  the 
copyist. 

When  he  rose  to  go,  Luella  was  disappointed. 
She  felt  that  she  had  brought  him  no  nearer,  and 
had  not  strengthened  her  hold  upon  him. 

As  the  young  lawyer  descended  the  steps  he  met 
a  mau  coming  up  whom  he  recognized  as  a  dealer 
in  worthless  mining  stock,  who  was  looked  upon 
by  reputable  business  men  with  doubt  and  suspi- 
cion. 

"What  business  can  Orlando  Jenkins  have  with 
Mr.  Ferguson?"  he  asked  himself. 


158  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

ANOTHER  RAILROAD  ADVENTURE. 

Srx  months  have  passed  and  brought  with  them 
some  changes.  At  the  end  of  two  months  Ruth 
Patton  sent  for  her  mother,  who  was  feeling  very- 
lonely  at  Port  Jervis,  and  engaged  a  suite  of  three 
rooms  over  those  occupied  by  Mrs.  Fenton  and 
Fred.  Though  she  was  away  during  the  day,  the 
two  ladies,  living  so  near  together,  were  company 
for  each  other.  Ruth  had  now  become  advanced 
to  twelve  dollars  a  week,  not  out  of  charity,  but 
because  Alfred  Lindsay's  business  had  considerably 
increased  and  gave  his  copyist  more  to  do. 

Fred  was  still  on  the  Erie  road,  but  it  was  now 
winter  and  the  travel  had  so  much  diminished  that 
where  he  had  formerly  earned  seven  or  eight  dol- 
lars a  week  he  now  averaged  no  more  than  four. 
He  began  to  be  dissatisfied,  for  his  income  now  was 
inadequate  to  meet  his  expenses  and  he  had  been 
obliged  to  spend  twenty  dollars  out  of  the  two  hun- 
dred which  he  had  received  from  Mr.  Lawrence  at 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  159 

Niagara  Falls.  He  was  now  seventeen,  and  he 
felt  that  it  was  high  time  he  had  entered  upon 
some  business  ii.  which  he  could  advance  by  suc- 
cessive steps.  On  the  road,  if  he  remained  till  he 
was  thirty  years  of  age,  he  could  earn  no  more 
than  at  present.  He  answered  several  advertise- 
ments, but  secured  nothing  likely  to  be  an  improve- 
ment upon  his  present  place. 

One  evening  toward  the  end  of  December,  he 
was  about  to  leave  the  cars  when  his  attention  was 
drawn  to  an  old  gentleman  with  hair  nearly  white, 
who  did  not  rise  with  the  rest  of  the  passengers, 
but  remained  in  his  seat  with  his  head  leaned  back 
and  his  eyes  closed. 

The  train  boy,  concluding  that  he  had  fallen 
asleep,  went  up  to  him  and  touched  him  gently. 

"  We  have  reached  Jersey  Cit}r,"  he  said. 

The  old  man  opened  his  eyes  slightly  and  gazed 
at  him  bewildered. 

"  I — I  don't  know  where  I  am,"  he  murmured 
vaguely. 

"  You  are  in  Jersey  City,  sir." 

"  I  want  to  go  to  New  York." 

"  You  have  only  to  cross  the  ferry." 

•'  Excuse  me  ;  I  am  a  stranger  here.  I  am  from 
Ohio.     Where  is  the  ferry." 

"  Let  me  lead  you  to  the  boat,  sir." 

The  old  man  rose  feebly  and  put  his  hand  to  his 
head. 


160  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"I  don't  know  what  is  the  matter  with  me,"  he 
said.     "  I  feel  sick." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  upset  by  your  journey.  Come 
with  me,  and  I  will  take  care  of  you." 

"You  are  a  very  good  boy,  and  I  will  accept 
your  offer." 

He  rose  and  left  the  car,  leaning  heavily  on  Fred's 
arm. 

"  How  long  have  you  felt  unwell  ?  "  asked  the 
train  boy  sympathetically. 

"  Ever  since  we  left  Elmira.  My  head  troubles 
me. 

"  It  is  the  motion  of  the  cars,  no  doubt.  Here 
we  are ! " 

They  were  just  in  time  to  reach  the  boat.  They 
entered  the  ladies'  cabin,  as  Fred  thought  the 
tobacco  smoke  which  always  pervaded  the  cabin 
devoted  to  men  would  increase  the  old  gentleman's 
head  trouble. 

"  Where  do  you  wish  to  go  when  we  have  reached 
the  New  York  side  ?  "  asked  Fred,  when  they  were 
nearly  across  the  river. 

"I  have  a  nephew  living  on  Madison  Avenue. 
Do  you  know  that  street  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir,  very  well.  I  will  go  up  with  you 
if  you  will  let  me  know  j-our  nephew's  name." 

The  name  was  mentioned,  and  to  Fred's  surprise 
was  that  of  a  wealthy  and  influential  Wall  Street 
broker.   It  was  clear  that  the  old  gentleman,  though 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  161 

plainly   dressed,   would   not  need   to   economize. 

"  I  think,  sir,"  said  Fred,  noticing  that  the  old 
man  seemed  to  be  getting  more  and  more  feeble, 
"  that  it  will  be  well  for  you  to  take  a  cab,  in  order 
to  avoid  any  walking.  You  seem  very  much 
fatigued." 

"  You  are  right.  Will  you  call  one  ?  I  don't 
feel  able." 

"  With  pleasure,  sir." 

Fred  passed  through  the  gate  and  beckoned  a 
hackman,  who  drove  up  with  alacrity. 

"  Where  to,  sir  ?  "  he  asked. 

Fred  gave  the  number  on  Madison  Avenue. 

"  Mr.  John  Wainwright  lives  there,"  said  the 
hackman.  "  I  sometimes  drive  him  up  from  Wall 
Street." 

"  That  is  the  place.     This  is  his  uncle." 

The  hackman  touched  his  hat  respectfully  to  the 
old  gentleman,  whom  he  had  at  first  mentally  styled 
a  rusty  old  codger.  His  relationship  to  the  wealthy 
broker  gave  him  dignity  in  the  eyes  of  the  driver. 

"  Won't  you  get  in  too  ?  "  asked  the  old  gentle- 
man, who  had  come  to  rely  upon  Fred  as  his 
guardian. 

"  Certainly,  sir." 

"  I  shall  feel  safer.  lam  aperfect  stranger  in 
the  city." 

He  leaned  back  in  the  seat  and  partially  closed 
his  eyes. 

11 


162  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

The  hack  rattled  through  the  streets  and  in  due 
time  reached  its  destination. 

The  hackman  opened  the  door  of  the  cab  and 
Fred  assisted  the  old  gentleman  to  alight. 

"  Take  my  pocket-book  and  pay  him,"  said  the 
old  man. 

The  hackman  did  not  venture  to  ask  more  than 
his  rightful  fare,  as  it  would  have  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  broker,  whom  he  did  not  care  to 
offend. 

The  driver  paid,  Fred  ascended  the  steps  and 
rang  the  bell. 

A  man  servant  opened  the  door. 

"  Is  Mr.  Wainwright  at  home  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

The  servant,  seeing  an  old  man  in  rather  a  rusty 
dress,  was  inclined  to  think  that  he  was  an  appli- 
cant for  charity,  and  answered  rather  superciliously : 

"  Yes,  he's  at  'ome,  but  I  ain't  sure  as  he'll  see 

you." 

"  Tell  him,"  said  Fred  sharply,  "  that  his  uncle 
has  arrived." 

"  His  uncle  ! "  repeated  the  astounded  flunkey. 
"  O  yes,  sir,  certainly,  sir.  I  think  he  is  at  'ome. 
Won't  you  step  in  sir  ?  " 

Fred  would  have  gone  away,  but  the  old  gentle- 
man still  seemed  to  require  his  assistance,  and  he 
stepped  in  with  him  and  led  him  into  the  drawing- 
room. 

The  servant  promptly  reported  the  arrival  to  Mr. 


THE  EEIE  TRAIN  BOY.  J 6S 

Wainwright,  who  descended  the  staircase  quickly 
and  greeted  his  uncle. 

"  You  are  heartily  welcome,  Uncle  Silas,"  he  said. 
"  I  did  not  expect  you  till  to-morrow,  or  I  would 
have  sent  the  carriage  for  you." 

"  I  changed  my  mind,  John,  and  decided  to  push 
through." 

"  Who  is  this  young  man  with  you  ?  " 

"  He  is  a  kind  friend,  John.  I  was  taken  sick 
— the  effect  of  the  journey,  I  think — and  I  shouldn't 
have  been  able  to  get  up  here  but  for  him." 

The  broker  smiled  pleasantly  and  held  out  his 
hand  to  Fred. 

"  You  are  the  train  boy,  are  you  not  ?  "  he  asked, 
glancing  at  Fred's  cap. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  hope  you  find  it  pays  you  well." 

"  Not  at  this  season,  sir." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  in  service? 

"  Over  a  year." 

"  Thank  you  for  your  kindness  to  my  uncle. 
He  seems  ill  and  requires  my  attention  now.  Can 
you  make  it  convenient  to  call  here  to-morrow 
evening  at  eight  o'clock?" 

"  Yes,  sir.     I  will  call  with  pleasure." 

"  Good-night,  then,    and   don't  forget   to  call." 

The  broker  shook  hands  with  Fred  again,  and 
the  train  boy  left  the  house  quite  won  by  the  pleas- 
ant and  affable  manner  of  the  great  broker. 


164  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"I  never  expected  to  know  such  a  man  as  that," 
thought  Fred.  "  I  wish  he  would  give  me  a  posi- 
tion in  his  office.  That  would  be  much  better 
worth  having  than  my  present  place." 

"  Why  are  you  so  late,  Fred  ?  "  asked  his  mother, 
when  he  reached  home. 

"  I  had  to  make  a  call  on  Mr.  Wainwright,  the 
broker,"  answered  Fred. 

"I  guess  you  are  only  funning,"  said  Albert. 

"  No,  I  am  not.  I  am  invited  to  call  again  to- 
morrow evening." 

"What  for?" 

"  Perhaps  he's  going  to  take  me  into  partnership," 
said  Fred  in  joke. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  165 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 
feed's  good  luck. 

Fred  made  a  short  trip  the  next  day,  and  re- 
turned home  at  four  o'clock.  He  was  glad  to  be 
back  so  early,  as  it  gave  him  time  to  prepare  for  his 
evening  visit.  Naturally  his  mind  had  dwelt  upon 
it  more  or  less  during  the  day,  and  he  looked  for- 
ward to  the  occasion  with  pleasant  anticipations. 
The  broker's  gracious  manners  led  Fred  to  think 
of  him  as  a  friend. 

"  I  would  like  to  be  in  the  employ  of  such  a 
man,"  he  reflected. 

He  started  from  home  in  good  season,  and  found 
himself  on  the  broker's  steps  on  the  stroke  of  eight. 

The  door  was  opened  by  the  same  servant  as  on 
the  evening  previous,  but  he  treated  Fred  more 
respectfully,  having  overheard  Mr.  Wainwright 
speak  of  him  cordially. 

So  when  Fred  asked  "  Is  Mr.  Wainwright  at 
home  ?  "  he  answered — "  Yes,  sir  ;  come  right  in. 
I  believe  as  you  are  expected." 


166  TEE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

The  old  man  was  descending  the  stairs  as  Fred 
entered,  and  immediately  recognized  him. 

"  Ha,  my  young  friend !  "  he  said.  "  I  am  glad 
to  see  you,"  and  he  held  out  his  hand. 

"  I  hope  you  are  feeling  better,  sir,"  said  Fred 
respectfully. 

"  Oh,  yes,  thank  you.  I  feel  quite  myself  to-day. 
It  was  the  length  of  the  journey  that  upset  and 
fatigued  me.  I  couldn't  travel  every  day,  as  you 
do." 

"  No,  sir,  I  suppose  not  now  ;  but  when  you  were 
of  my  age  it  would  have  been  different." 

"  How  old  are  you  ?  " 

"Seventeen." 

"*  And  I  am  seventy-one,  the  same  figures,  but 
reversed.  That  makes  a  great  difference.  Come 
in  here ;  my  nephew  will  be  down  at  once." 

The  train  boy  followed  the  old  gentleman  into  the 
handsome  drawing-room,  and  sat  down  on  a  sofa 
feeling,  it  must  be  owned,  not  quite  as  much  at  home 
as  he  would  have  done  in  a  plainer  house. 

"  Did  you  make  much  to-day  ?  "  asked  Silas  Cor- 
win  (that  was  his  name)  in  a  tone  of  interest. 

"  No,  sir,  it  was  a  poor  day.  I  only  sold  three 
dollars'  worth." 

"  And  how  much  did  that  yield  you?  " 

"  Sixty  cents.  I  have  a  commission  of  twenty 
per  cent." 

"  What  was  the  most  you  ever  made  in  a  day  ?  " 


THE  ERIE  TBAIN  BOY.  16? 

"  I  took  in  thirteen  dollars  once — it  was  on  a 
"holiday." 

"  That  would  give  you  two  dollars  and  sixty 
^ents." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Very  good  indeed !  " 

"  If  I  could  keep  that  up  I  should  feel  like  a 
millionaire." 

"  Perhaps  happier  than  a  millionaire.  I  have 
known  millionaires  who  were  weighed  down  by 
cares,  and  were  far  from  happy." 

Fred  listened  respectfully,  but  like  most  boys  of 
his  age  found  it  impossible  to  understand  how  a 
very  rich  man  could  be  otherwise  than  happy. 

At  this  point  Mr.  John  Wainwright  entered  the 
room. 

"  Good-evening,  my  boy  ! "  he  said  cordially. 
"  I  won't  apologize  for  being  late,  as  my  uncle  has 
no  doubt  entertained  you." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  he  was  just  telling  me  that  million- 
aires are  sometimes  unhappy." 

"  And  you  did  not  believe  him  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  should  be  happy  if  I  were  worth  a 
million." 

"  You  might  feel  poorer  than  you  do  now.  I 
knew  a  millionaire  once — a  bachelor — who  did  not 
venture  to  drink  but  one  cup  of  coffee  at  his  break- 
fast  (he  took  it  at  a  cheap  restaurant)  because  it 
would  involve  an  added  expenditure  of  five 
cents." 


168  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Was  he  in  his  right  mind,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  don't  wonder  you  ask.  I  don't  think  a  man 
who  carries  economy  so  far  is  quite  in  his  right 
mind.  However,  he  was  shrewd  enough  in  his 
business  transactions.  But  now  tell  me  something 
about  yourself.     Are  you  alone  in  the  world  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  I  have  a  mother  and  little  brother." 

"  Are  they  partly  dependent  upon  you  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Can  you  make  enough  to  support  them  com- 
fortably?" 

"  I  can  in  the  summer,  sir,  but  in  the  winter  my 
earnings  are  small." 

"  How  small  ?  " 

"  Not  over  four  dollars  a  week." 

"  That  is  certainly  small.  Do  you  like  your 
present  employment  ?  " 

"  I  am  getting  tired  of  it,"  answered  Fred.  "  I 
should  be  glad  to  find  a  place  where  I  can  have 
a  chance  to  rise,  even  if  the  pay  is  small." 

"  What  do  you  think  of  going  into  a  broker's 
office?" 

Fred's  heart  gave  a  bound. 

"  I  should  like  it  very  much,"  he  said. 

"  Then  I  think  I  can  offer  you  a  place  in  mine. 
Come  down  on  Saturday,  and  I  will  introduce  you 
to  the  office  employees,  and  on  Monday  you  can 
begin  work." 

"  I  am   very  much  obliged  to  you,  Mr.  Wain 
wright." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  169 

"  Before  you  know  how  much  pay  you  are  to 
receive  ?  "  asked  the  broker,  smiling. 

"  I  can  safely  trust  that  to  you,  sir." 

"  Then  we  will  say  eight  dollars  to  begin  with." 

"  My  mother  will  be  pleased  with  my  good  luck. 
I  hope  I  shall  prove  satisfactory." 

"  We  generally  ask  references  from  those  about 
to  enter  our  employment,  but  my  uncle  here  insists 
that  it  is  unnecessary  in  your  case." 

"  I'll  go  security  for  the  boy,  John,"  said  Silas 
Corwin. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Fred.  "  I  will  see  that 
you  don't  run  any  risk." 

At  this  moment  a  young  girl  of  fourteen  entered 
the  room.  She  was  the  picture  of  rosy  health,  and 
Fred  looked  at  her  admiringly.  She,  too,  glanced 
at  him  curiously. 

"Fred,  this  is  my  daughter,  Rose,"  said  Mr. 
Wainwright. 

"Is  this  the  boy  who  came  home  with  Uncle 
Silas?"  asked  the  young  lady. 

"  Yes,  Rose." 

"  He  looks  like  a  nice  boy." 

Fred  blushed  at  the  compliment,  but  coming  from 
such  lips  he  found  it  very  agreeable. 

"  Thank  you,"  he  said. 

"How  old  are  you?"  continued  Rose.  "I'm 
fourteen." 

"  I  am  three  years  older." 


170  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  When  I  am  three  years  older  I  shall  be  a  young 
lady." 

"  I  don't  think  I  shall  ever  be  a  young  lady,"  said 
Fred  demurely. 

"  Why,  of  course  you  won't,  you  foolish  boy,"  said 
Rose,  with  a  merry  laugh.  "  Papa,  may  I  invite 
Fred  to  my  New  Year's  party  ?" 

"  Yes,  if  you  like." 

"  You'll  come,  won't  you  ?  "  asked  Rose. 

"  If  your  father  approves,"  answered  Fred,  hes- 
itating. 

"  Of  course  he  does.  Didn't  he  say  so  ?  If 
you'll  tell  me  where  you  live,  I'll  send  you  a  card. 
Do  you  dance  ?  " 

"  Not  much  ;  but  I  will  practice  beforehand." 

"  That's  right.  You  must  dance  with  me,  you 
know." 

"  Rose,"  said  her  father  gravely,  "  are  you  under 
the  impression  that  this  is  Leap  Year  ?  You  seem 
to  be  very  attentive  to  this  young  man." 

Rose  was  the  pride  of  her  father's  heart,  as  she 
might  well  be,  for  she  was  an  unusually  attractive 
child,  and  had  been  a  good  deal  indulged,  but  by 
no  means  spoiled.  Mr.  Wainwright  had  no  foolish 
ideas  about  exclusiveness,  and  was  not  disturbed 
by  his  daughter's  cordiality  to  Fred. 

"  Do  you  play  backgammon,  Fred  ?  "  asked  Rose, 
after  some  further  conversation. 

"  Yes,  a  little." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  171 

"  Then  I'll  get  the  backgammon  board,  and  we'll 
have  a  game." 

Fred  was  not  a  skillful  player,  and  the  young 
lady  beat  him  three  games  in  succession,  which 
put  her  in  high  spirits.  Her  favorable  opinion  of 
Fred  was  confirmed,  and  when  he  rose  to  go  she 
pressed  him  to  come  again. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Fred,  "  I  shall  be  very  glad 
indeed  to  come." 

"  Rose,"  said  her  father,  after  Fred's  departure, 
"it  seems  to  me  you  have  been  flirting  with  Fred." 

"  He's  a  nice  boy,  don't  you  think  so,  papa  ?  " 

"  I  hope  he  will  prove  so,  for  I  am  going  to  take 
him  into  my  office." 

"  That's  good.      Then   I  shall   see  him  often." 

"  Really,  Rose,  I  was  a  little  alarmed  lest  you 
should  make  him  an  offer  this  evening." 

"  You  needn't  be  afraid,  papa.  I  will  wait  till  I 
am  a  little  bit  older." 

"  And  then  shall  you  offer  yourself  to  Fred  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  shall  if  I  don't  see  any  one  I  like 
better." 

"  You  must  remember  he  is  poor." 

"That  doesn't  make  any  difference.  You  can 
give  us  all  the  money  we  want." 

"  A  very  satisfactory  arrangement,  upon  my 
word !  I  am  glad  you  don't  insist  upon  getting 
married  at  once,  but  give  me  a  few  hours  to  get 
reconciled  to  the  thought." 


172  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

BOSE  WAINWEIGHT's  PARTY. 

As  Fred  would  make  his  de'but  in  fashionable 
society  at  Rose  Wainwright's  party,  he  was  natu- 
rally solicitious  to  make  a  favorable  impression. 
He  had  for  some  time  been  intending  to  procure  » 
new  suit,  but  hesitated  on  account  of  the  expense. 
Now  with  a  new  position  in  prospect,  and  a  liberal 
salary,  he  no  longer  delayed,  but  purchased  a  neat 
black  suit — a  misfit — for  seventeen  dollars,  and  a 
few  small  articles  of  which  he  stood  in  need. 

The  next  thing  required  was  to  obtain  some 
knowledge  of  dancing.  Fortunately  he  was  ac- 
quainted with  a  gentleman  who  gave  private  as  well 
as  class  lessons,  and  was  a  very  successful  teacher. 
He  called  upon  Professor  Saville,  and  asked  him 
if  he  could  qualify  him  to  make  a  creditable 
appearance  at  the  party. 

"  How  much  time  have  you  ?  "  asked  the  pro- 
fessor. 

"Ten  days." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  173 

"  Then  come  to  me  every  evening,  and  I  will 
guarantee  to  make  you  more  than  an  average 
dancer  in  that  time." 

"  And  your  terms  ?  " 

"  To  you  will  be  half  price.  I  know  very  well, 
Fred,  that  you  are  not  a  millionaire,  and  will  adapt 
my  terms  to  your  circumstances." 

Professor  Saville  kept  his  word,  and  when  the 
eventful  day  arrived  Fred  felt  a  degree  of  con- 
fidence in  his  newly-acquired  skill.  When  he  was 
dressed  for  the  party  in  his  new  suit,  with  a  white 
silk  tie  and  a  pair  of  patent  leather  shoes,  it  would 
have  been  hard  to  recognize  him  as  a  poor  train 
boy. 

"  You  look  nice,  Fred,"  said  Albert. 

"  Do  I  ?  I  must  give  you  a  dime  for  that  con- 
pliment.     Now  don't  go  and  spend  it  for  whisky." 

"  I  never  drink  whisky,"  said  Albert,  indig- 
nantly. 

"  I  was  only  joking,  Bertie.  Well,  mother,  I 
will  bid  you  good-evening." 

"  I  wish  you  a  pleasant  time,  Fred.  Shall  you  be 
out  late  ?  " 

"  I  can't  tell,  mother.  It  is  so  long  since  I  have 
been  to  a  fashionable  party  that  I  have  forgotten 
when  they  do  close." 

Some  of  the  boys  who  attended  Miss  Wain- 
wright's  party  engaged  cabs,  but  Fred  would  have 
thought  this  a  foolish  expenditure.     It  was  a  dry 


174  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

crisp  day,  with  no  snow  on  the  ground,  and  he  felt 
that  it  would  do  him  no  harm  to  walk.  He  did 
not  expect  to  meet  any  one  he  knew,  but  on  turn- 
ing into  Madison  Avenue,  he  nearly  ran  into  Ray* 
mond  Ferguson. 

Raymond  did  not  at  first  recognize  him.  When 
he  did,  he  surveyed  him  in  his  party  dress  in  uncon- 
cealed amazement. 

"  Where  did  you  get  that  rig  ?  "  he  inquired, 
with  more  abruptness  than  ceremony. 

Fred  was  glad  to  meet  Raymond,  and  enjoyed 
his  surprise. 

"  I  bought  it,"  he  answered  briefly. 

"  But  why  did  you  buy  it?  I  don't  see  where 
you  found  the  money.  You'd  better  have  saved  it 
for  food  and  rent." 

"  I'll  think  over  your  advice,  Cousin  Raymond," 
said  Fred  with  a  twinkle  of  fun  in  his  eyes. 

"  Were  you  going  to  call  at  our  house  ?  "  asked 
Raymond. 

"  Not  this  evening." 

"  I  don't  care  to  have  you  call  me  Cousin  Ray- 
mond." 

"  I  won't  then.  I  am  just  as  much  ashamed  of 
the  relationship  as  you  are." 

'*  If  that's  a  joke  it's  a  very  poor  one,"  said  Ray- 
mond provoked. 

"  It's  no  joke,  I  assure  you." 

Fred  seemed  so   cool  and  composed  that  his 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY,  175 

cousin  was  nonplussed.  He  started  as  if  to  go  on, 
but  curiosity  got  the  better  of  him. 

"  You  haven't  told  me  where  you  were  going  in 
that  absurd  dress,"  he  said. 

"  I  don't  see  anything  absurd  in  it.  I  am  going 
to  a  party." 

"  To  a  party  ? — what  party  ?  " 

"Miss  Rose  Wainwright's." 

"  What,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Wainwright,  the 
broker  ?  "  asked  Raymond,  incredulously. 

"  Yes." 

Now  it  happened  that  Raymond  had  been  par- 
ticularly anxious  to  get  an  invitation  to  this  party. 
Some  of  his  friends  at  the  Columbia  Grammar 
School  were  going  and  he  had  intrigued,  but  unsuc- 
cessfully, to  get  a  card  of  invitation.  The  idea 
that  his  cousin — an  obscure  train  boy — had  suc- 
ceeded where  he  had  failed  seemed  absurd  and 
preposterous.  It  intensified  his  disappointment, 
and  made  him  foolishly  jealous  of  Fred. 

"  There  must  be  some  mistake  about  this,"  he 
said  harshly.  "  You  only  imagine  that  you  are 
invited." 

"  I  am  not  quite  a  fool,  Cousin  Raymond — 
excuse  me,  Mr.  Ferguson.  What  do  you  say  to 
this?" 

He  drew  from  his  pocket  a  note  of  invitation 
requesting  the  favor  of  Mr.  Fred  Fenton's  com- 
pany at  Miss  Rose  Wainwright's  New  Year's  party. 


176  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  How  did  she  happen  to  send  you  this  card  ?  * 
asked  Raymond,  his  surprise  increasing.  "  You 
don't  mean  to  say  you  know  Rose  Wainwright  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  know  her.  I  spent  an  evening  at  the 
house  nearly  two  weeks  ago,  and  played  backgam- 
mon with  her." 

"  I  never  heard  the  like.  Have  any  bootblacks 
been  invited?" 

"  I  don't  know.  The  young  lady  didn't  tell  me 
who  were  coming." 

"  Take  my  advice  and  don't  go.' 

"Why  not?" 

"  You  will  be  about  as  much  at  home  at  a  fash- 
ionable party  as  a  cat  would  be  at  the  opera." 

"But  I  have  accepted  the  invitation." 

"  That  won't  matter.  You  can  write  a  note  to- 
morrow saying  that  you  thought  it  wiser  to  stay 
away." 

"Besides  there  is  another  objection." 

"What  is  that?" 

"Rose  expects  me  to  dance  with  her." 

"  You  dance ! " 

"  Certainly,  why  not  ?  " 

"  I  begin  to  think  you  are  crazy,  Fred  Fenton." 

"I  don't  see  why." 

"  Of  course  you  can't  dance." 

"  Of  course  I  can.  I  am  a  pupil  of  Professor 
Saville.  But  I  must  bid  you  good  evening,  as  it 
is  time  I  was  at  the  party." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT.  177 

Raymond  gazed  after  Fred  as  he  walked  toward 
the  scene  of  the  evening's  enjoyment  with  cor- 
rugated brows. 

"  I  never  heard  of  anything  more  ridiculous," 
he  muttered.  "  It's  like  a  beggar  on  horseback. 
Think  of  a  poor  boy  like  Fred  figuring  at  Rose 
Wainwright's  party.     It  is  disgusting." 

Fred  would  not  have  had  his  share  of  human 
nature  if  he  had  not  enjoyed  the  discomfiture  of 
his  haughty  cousin. 

"  He  thinks  this  world  was  made  for  him,"  he 
said  to  himself.  "  There  would  be  no  place  for 
me  in  it  if  he  had  his  will." 

The  broker's  house  was  blazing  with  light,  and 
already  many  of  the  young  guests  had  arrived. 
Plants  and  flowers  were  to  be  seen  in  profusion, 
and  the  mansion  wore  a  holiday  look.  Fred  was 
dazzled,  but  did  not  allow  himself  to  appear  ill  at 
ease. 

"  Second  floor  back,"  said  the  servant  who 
admitted  him. 

Fred  went  upstairs  and  arranged  his  toilet  in 
the  room  appropriated  to  gentlemen.  Three  or 
four  other  boys  were  present,  but  he  knew  no  one. 
With  one  of  these,  an  attractive  boy  of  his  own 
age,  Fred  stumbled  into  acquaintance,  and  they 
went  downstairs  together. 

"Come  with  me,"  said  the  other  boy,  "we  will 
pay  our  respects  to  Rose  together." 

12 


178  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

Fred  was  glad  to  have  some  one  take  him  in  tow, 
and  said  so,  adding,  "  Won't  you  tell  me  your 
name?" 

"My  name  is  George  Swain.  I  am  a  Columbia 
schoolboy." 

"  And  mine,  Fred  Fenton.  I  am  in  Mr.  Wain- 
wright's  office." 

Rose  greeted  both  boys  cordially.  She  glanced 
approvingly  at  Fred's  dress.  She  had  been  a  little 
uncertain  whether  he  would  be  able  to  appear  in 
suitable  costume. 

"  You  won't  forget  our  dance  ?  "  she  said,  smil- 
ing. 

"  Oh  no ;  I  am  counting  upon  it." 

"  Then  put  down  your  name  there,"  and  she  pre- 
sented a  card  containing  the  order  of  dances. 

"  May  I  put  down  my  name,  too  ?  "  asked  George 
Swain. 

"Certainly.  I  shall  be  pleased  to  dance  with 
you. 

When  his  turn  came  Fred  acquitted  himself 
very  creditably,  thanks  to  his  skillful  instructor, 
Professor  Saville. 

At  ten  o'clock  a  series  of  tableaux  was  announced. 
At  one  end  of  the  dining-room  a  miniature  stage 
had  been  erected,  and  there  was  a  circular  row  of 
footlights.  In  the  third  tableau,  Rose  took  part. 
She  incautiously  drew  too  near  the  footlights,  and 
in  an  instant  her  dress  caught  fire. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  179 

There  was  a  wild  scene  of  excitement.  All 
seemed  to  have  lost  their  presence  of  mind  except 
Fred.  Occupying  a  front  seat,  he  jumped  to  his 
feet  in  an  instant,  stripped  off  his  coat,  and  jump- 
ing on  the  stage  wrapped  it  round  the  terrified 
Rose. 


180  THE  EB£E  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

FEED   BECOMES    A    NEWSPAPER    HEEO. 

"Lie  down  instantly!  Don't  be  alarmed!  I 
will  save  you,"  said  Fred  rapidly,  as  he  reached  the 
girl. 

He  spoke  in  a  tone  of  authority  required  by  the 
emergency,  and  Rose  obeyed  without  question. 
Her  terror  gave  place  to  confidence  in  Fred.  Her 
prompt  obedience  saved  her  life.  A  minute's  delay, 
and  it  would  have  been  too  late. 

There  was  a  wild  rush  to  the  stage.  First  among 
those  to  reach  Fred  and  the  little  girl  was  Mr.  Wain- 
wright.  He  had  seen  his  daughter's  peril,  and  for 
a  moment  he  had  been  spellbound,  his  limbs  refus- 
ing to  act.  Had  Fred  been  affected  in  the  same 
way,  the  life  of  Rose  would  have  been  sacrificed. 

"  Are  you  much  hurt,  my  darling  ?  "  he  asked, 
sick  with  apprehension. 

"  Just  a  little,  papa,"  answered  Rose,  cheerfully. 
"  If  it  hadn't  been  for  Fred,  I  don't  know  what 
would  have  happened." 

The  coat  was  carefully  removed,  and  it  was  found 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  181 

that  the  chief  damage  had  been  to  the  white  dress. 
The  little  girl's  injuries  were  of  small  account. 

Fortunately  there  was  a  physician  present,  who 
took  Rose  in  hand,  and  did  what  was  needed  to 
relieve  her. 

"  It  is  a  miracle  that  she  was  saved,  Mr.  Wain- 
wright,"  he  said.     "  But  for  this  brave  boy " 

"  Hush,  doctor,  I  cannot  bear  to  think  of  it,"said 
Mr.  Wain wright  with  a  shudder.  "I  can  never 
forget  what  you  have  done  for  me  and  mine,"  he 
added,  turning  to  Fred,  and  wringing  his  hand. 
"  I  won't  speak  of  it  now,  but  I  shall  always 
remember  it. 

Fred  blushed  and  tried  to  escape  notice,  but  the 
guests  surrounded  him  and  overwhelmed  him  with 
congratulations.  One  little  girl,  the  intimate  friend 
of  Rose,  even  threw  her  arms  round  his  neck  and 
kissed  him,  which  caused  Fred  to  blush  more  furi- 
ously than  ever.  But  upon  the  whole  he  bore  him- 
self so  modestly  that  he  won  golden  opinions  from 
all. 

The  incident  put  an  end  to  the  party.  As  soon 
as  it  was  understood  that  Rose  was  in  no  danger, 
the  guests  began  to  take  their  leave. 

George  Swain  and  Fred  went  out  together. 

"  Fred,  you  have  shown  yourself  a  hero,"  said 
his  friend  warmly. 

"  You  would  have  done  the  same  thing,"  said 
Fred. 


182  TBE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Perhaps  I  should,  but  I  should  not  have  acted 
so  promptly.  That  was  the  important  point.  You 
had  your  wits  about  you.  I  was  sitting  beside  you, 
but  before  I  had  time  to  collect  my  thoughts  you 
had  saved  Rose." 

"  I  acted  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment." 

"  How  did  you  know  just  what  to  do — making 
her  lie  down,  you  know  ?  " 

"  I  read  an  account  of  a  similar  case  some  months 
since.  It  came  to  me  in  a  moment,  and  I  acted 
upon  it." 

"  If  I  ever  catch  fire,  I  hope  you'll  be  on  hand  to 
put  me  out." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  laughed  Fred.  "  I'll  stand  you  on 
your  head  directly." 

"  Thank  you  !  It's  a  good  thing  to  have  a  con- 
siderate friend." 

"  Did  you  have  a  pleasant  evening,  Fred  ? " 
asked  Mrs.  Fenton.  "  Are  you  not  home  earlier 
than  you  expected  ?  " 

"  Yes,  mother.  There  was  as  an  accident  that 
broke  up  the  party." 

He  described  the  affair,  but  said  nothing  of  his 
own  part  in  it. 

The  next  morning,  after  Fred  had  taken  break- 
fast and  gone  to  business,  a  neighbor  came  in. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  Mrs.  Fenton,"  she  said. 
"  You  have  a  right  to  be  proud  of  Fred." 


TRAIN  BOT.  183 

"  Thank  you,"  said  the  widow,  puzzled.  "  I'm 
glad  you  think  well  of  him." 

"  There's  few  boys  that  would  have  done  what 
he  did." 

"  What  has  he  done  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Fenton,  stop- 
ing  short  on  her  way  to  the  pantry. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  you  don't  know  ?  Why, 
it's  in  all  the  papers." 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know  what  you  are  talking 
about." 

"  Didn't  he  tell  you  how  he  saved  the  little  girl 
from  burning  to  death?" 

"  Was  it  Fred  who  saved  her  ?  He  didn't  tell  me 
that." 

"  Of  course  it  was.     Read  that,  new  ! " 

She  put  in  the  hand  of  the  widow  a  copy  of  the 
Sun  in  which  the  whole  scene  was  vividly  described. 

"What  do  you  say  now,  Mrs.  Fenton?" 

"  That  I  am  all  the  n.ore  proud  of  Fred  because 
he  did  not  boast  of  what  he  did,"  and  a  look  of 
pride  shone  in  the  widow's  eyes. 

That  morning,  when  Raymond  Ferguson  entered 
the  breakfast-room  rather  later  than  usual,  he 
found  his  father  reading  a  paragraph  in  the  Sun 
with  every  appearance  of  surprise. 

"  What  is  it,  papa  ?  "  asked  Raymond. 

"  Read  that !  " 

Raymond  took  the  paper,  and  his  eye  was  drawn 
to  some  conspicuous  head  lines. 


184  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

A  Narrow  Escape  From  a  Terrible  Death  ! 
a  broker's  daughter  in  flames  ! 
Saved  By  a  Boy's  Heroism  ! 
a  tragic  scene  at  a  new  year's  party  ! 

"  Why,  it's  Rose  Wainwright !  "  said  Raymond 
excitedly.  "  Whom  do  you  think  I  saw  on  his  way 
to  the  party  last  evening  ?  " 

"  Fred  Fenton." 

"  How  did  you  hear  it  ?  "  asked  Raymond  in  sur- 
prise. 

"  Read  the  account  and  you  will  understand." 

This  is  what  Raymond  read: 

Last  evening  a  terrible  tragedy  carne  near  being  enacted 
at  the  house  of  the  well-known  broker,  John  Wainwright. 
The  occasion  was  a  j  uvenile  party  given  by  his  little  daughter 
Rose,  eleven  years  of  age.  One  part  of  the  entertainment  pro- 
vided was  a  series  of  tableaux  upon  a  miniature  stage  at  one 
end  of  the  dining-room.  All  went  well  till  the  third  tableau, 
in  which  the  young  hostess  took  part.  She  incautiously  ap- 
proached too  near  the  foolights,  when  her  white  dress  caught 
fire  and  instantly  blazed  up.  All  present  were  spellbound, 
and  it  seemed  as  if  the  little  girl's  fate  was  sealed.  Luckily 
one  of  the  young  guests,  Fred  Fenton,  retained  his  coolness 
and  presence  of  mind.  Without  an  instant's  delay  he  sprang 
upon  the  stage,  directed  the  little  girl  to  lie  down,  and  wrap- 
ped his  coat  around  her.  Thanks  to  his  promptitude,  she 
escaped  with  slight  injuries.  By  the  time  the  rest  of  those 
present  recovered  from  the  spell  of  terror,  Rose  was  saved. 

We  understand  that  the  brave  boy  who  displayed  such 
heroic  qualities  was  formerly  a  train  boy  on  the  Erie  Rail- 
road but  is  now  employed  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Wainwright. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  185 

Raymond  read  this  accouut  with  lowering  brow. 
He  felt  sick  with  jealousy.  Why  had  he  not  been 
lucky  enough  to  receive  an  invitation  to  the  party, 
and  enact  the  part  of  a  deliverer  ?  He  did  not  ask 
himself  whether,  if  the  opportunity  had  been  af- 
forded, he  would  have  availed  himself  of  it.  It  is 
fortunate  for  Rose  that  she  had  Fred  to  depend 
upon  in  her  terrible  emergency,  and  not  Raymond 
Ferguson.  There  was  little  that  was  heroic  about 
him.  A  hero  must  be  unselfish,  and  Raymond  was 
the  incarnation  of  selfishness. 

"  Your  consin  seems  to  have  become  quite  a 
hero,"  said  Mr.  Ferguson,  as  Raymond  looked  up 
from  the  paper. 

"  Don't  call  him  my  cousin !  I  don't  care  to 
own  him." 

"I  don't  know,"  said  his  father,  who  was  quite 
as  selfish,  but  not  as  malicious  as  Raymond.  "I 
am  not  sure  but  it  will  be  considered  a  credit  to 
us  to  have  such  a  relative." 

"  Anybody  could  have  done  as  much  as  he  did," 
said  Raymond  in  a  tone  of  discontent.  "Here's 
some  news  of  your  train  boy,  Luella,"  he  continued, 
as  his  sister  entered  the  room. 

"  Has  he  been  arrested  ?  "  asked  Luella  listlessly. 

"  Not  at  all !  He  turns  out  to  be  a  hero."  said 
her  father. 

"  I  suppose  that  is  a  joke." 

"  Read  the  paper  and  see." 


186  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

The  young  lady  read  the  account  with  as  little 
pleasure  as  Raymond. 

"  How  on  earth  came  a  boy  like  that  at  the 
Wainwright's  house  ?"  she  said  with  a  curl  of  the 
lip.     "  Really,  society  is  getting  very  much  mixed." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  her  father,  "  It  was  his  relation- 
ship to  the  future  Countess  Cattelli." 

Luella  smiled  complacently.  She  had  fallen  in 
with  an  Italian  count,  an  insignificant  looking 
man,  very  dark  and  with  jet  black  hair  and  mus- 
tache, of  whom  she  knew  very  little  except  that 
he  claimed  to  be  a  count.  She  felt  that  he  would 
propose  soon,  and  she  had  decided  to  accept  him. 
She  did  not  pretend  to  love  him,  but  it  would  be 
such  a  triumph  to  be  addressed  as  the  Countess 
Cattelli.  She  would  let  Alfred  Lindsay  see  that 
«he  could  do  without  him. 


THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY,  187 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

A  CONFIDENTIAL  MISSION. 

When  Fred  met  Mr.  Wainwright  at  the  office 
the  next  morning  his  employer  greeted  him  with  a 
pleasant  smile,  but  did  not  stop  to  speak.  Fred 
felt  relieved,  for  it  embarrassed  him  to  be  thanked, 
and  since  the  evening  previous  no  one  had  met 
him  without  speaking  of  his  heroism.  Now  Fred 
was  inclined  to  be  modest,  and  he  could  not  pos- 
sibly feel  that  he  had  done  anything  heroic,  though 
he  was  quite  aware  that  he  had  saved  the  life  of 
Rose  Wainwright.  He  looked  upon  it  rather  as 
a  fortunate  opportunity  for  rendering  his  employer 
a  valuable  service. 

At  one  o'clock  Fred  took  his  hat,  intending  to 
go  to  lunch.  He  lunched  at  a  quiet  place  in  Nas- 
sau Street,  and  never  spent  over  twenty-five  cents 
for  this  meal,  feeling  that  he  must  give  the  bulk 
of  his  salary  to  his  mother. 

He  was  just  going  out  when  he  heard  his  name 
called. 

Looking  back,  he  saw  that  it  was  the  broker  him- 


188  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

self  who  was  speaking  to  him.  Mr.  Wainwright 
had  his  hat  on,  and  seemed  about  going  out,  too. 

"  You  must  go  to  lunch  with  me  to-day,  Fred." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  answered  Fred  respectfully. 

They  walked  through  Wall  Street  together,  the 
broker  chatting  pleasantly.  On  the  way  Fred 
met  Raymond,  who  stared  in  surprise  and  disgust 
as  he  saw  the  intimate  terms  on  which  Fred  ap- 
peared to  be  with  his  wealthy  employer.  Mr.  Wain- 
wright led  the  way  into  an  expensive  restaurant 
of  a  very  select  character,  and  motioned  Fred  to 
sit  down  at  a  table  with  him. 

After  the  orders  were  given,  he  said :  "  I  have 
invited  you  to  lunch  with  me,  as  I  could  not 
speak  at  the  office  without  being  overheard.  Of 
course  the  great  service  which  you  rendered  me 
and  mine  last  evening,  I  can  never  forget.  I  do 
not  propose  to  pay  you  for  it." 

"  I  am  glad  of  that,  sir,"  said  Fred  earnestly. 

"I  feel  that  money  is  entirely  inadequate  to 
express  my  gratitude,  but  I  shall  lose  no  oppor- 
tunity of  advancing  your  interests  and  pushing  you 
on  in  business." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"Indeed,  it  so  happens  that  I  have  an  opportunity 
even  now  of  showing  my  confidence  in  you." 

Fred  listened  with  increased  attention. 

"Some  months  since,"  continued  the  broker,  "a 
confidential  clerk  who  had  been  employed  in  my 


THE  EEIE  TEAIN  BOY.  189 

office  for  years  suddenly  disappeared,  and  with  him 
about  fifteen  thousand  dollars  in  money  and  secu- 
rities. As  they  were  my  property,  and  no  one  else 
was  involved,  I  did  not  make  the  loss  public,  think- 
ing that  I  might  stand  a  better  chance  of  getting 
them  back." 

"  But,  sir,  I  should  think  the  securities  would 
be  sold,  and  the  amount  realized  spent." 

"  Well  thought  of,  but  there  was  one  hindrance. 
They  were  not  negotiable  without  the  indorsement 
of  the  owner  in  whose  name  they  stood." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  see." 

"  Sooner  or  later,  I  expected  to  hear  from  them, 
and  I  have  done  so.  Yesterday  this  letter  came  to 
me  from  my  defaulting  clerk." 

He  placed  a  letter,  with  a  Canadian  postmark, 
in  Fred's  hand. 

"Shall  I  read  it?"  asked  Fred. 

"  Yes,  do  so." 

This  was  the  letter : 

Mb.  Wainweight. 

Deae  Sie — I  am  ashamed  to  address  you  after  the  manner 
in  which  I  have  betrayed  your  confidence  and  robbed  you, 
but  I  do  it  in  the  hope  of  repairing  to  some  extent  the  wrong 
I  have  committed,  and  of  restoring  to  you  a  large  part  of 
the  stolen  bonds.  If  it  depended  on  myself  alone  I  should 
have  little  difficulty,  but  I  had  a  partner  in  my  crime.  I 
may  say  indeed  that  I  never  should  have  robbed  you  had  I 
not  been  instigated  to  it  by  another.  This  man,  who  calls 
himself  Paul  Bowman,  I  made  acquaintance  with  at  a  billiard 


190  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

saloon  in  New  York.  He  insinuated  himself  into  my  confU 
dence,  inquired  my  salary,  denounced  it  as  inadequate,  and 
finally  induced  me  to  take  advantage  of  the  confidence 
reposed  in  me  to  abstract  the  securities  which  you  lost.  He 
had  made  all  arrangements  for  my  safe  flight,  accompany- 
ing me,  of  course.  We  went  to  Montreal  first  but  this  is 
so  apt  to  be  the  refuge  of  defaulters  that  we  finally  came  to 
the  small  village  from  which  I  address  these  lines. 

There  was  a  considerable  sum  of  money  which  we  spent, 
also  five  hundred  dollars  in  government  bonds  on  which  we 
realized.  The  other  securities  we  have  not  as  yet  been  able 
to  negotiate.  I  have  proposed  to  Bowman  to  restore  them 
to  you  by  express,  and  trust  to  your  kindness  to  spare  us  a 
criminal  prosecution,  and  enable  us  to  return  to  the  States, 
for  which  I  have  a  homesick  longing.  But  he  laughs  the 
Idea  to  scorn,  and  has  managed  to  spirit  away  the  bonds 
and  conceal  them  in  some  place  unknown  to  me.  Of  course 
this  makes  me  entirely  dependent  upon  him.  To  make 
matters  worse,  I  have  fallen  sick  with  rheumatism,  and  am 
physically  helpless. 

If  you  could  send  here  a  confidential  messenger  who  could 
ascertain  the  hiding-place  of  the  bonds,  I  would  thankfully 
consent  to  his  taking  them  back  to  you,  and  I  would  make 
no  conditions  with  you.  If  you  felt  that  you  could  repose 
confidence  in  me  once  more,  I  would  willingly  return  to  your 
employment,  and  make  arrangements  to  pay  you  by  degrees 
the  value  of  the  money  thus  far  expended  by  Bowman  arl 
myself.  There  are  still  thirteen  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars'  worth  of  securities  left  untouched  in  their  original 
packages. 

We  are  living  in  a  small  village  called  St.  Victor,  thirty 
miles  from  the  American  line.  We  occupy  a  small  cottage 
rather  out  of  the  village,  and  go  by  our  own  names.  Do 
not  write  to  me,  for  the  letter  would  be  seen  by  Paul 
Bowman,  and  defeat  my  plans,  but  instruct  your  messenger 
to  seek  a  private  interview  with  me.     I  am  detained  at  home 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  191 

by  sickness  at  present,  but  Bowman  is  away  most  of  the 
day.  He  is  fond  of  hunting,  and  spends  considerable  of  the 
day  in  the  woods,  while  his  evenings  are  spent  at  the  inn, 
where  there  is  a  pool  table.  I  have  managed  to  send  this 
to  the  post  office  by  a  small  girl  who  comes  here  in  the 
morning  to  make  the  bed  and  sweep.  Hoping  earnestly  that 
this  communication  may  reach  you,  I  sign  myself 
Your  repentant  clerk, 

James  SinciiAib. 

Fred  read  this  letter  with  great  interest. 

"  He  seems  to  write  in  good  faith,"  he  said,  as 
he  handed  it  back. 

"  Yes ;  Sinclair  is  not  so  wicked  as  weak.  I 
quite  believe  him  when  he  says  that  it  was  Bow- 
man who  instigated  him  to  the  deed." 

"  Do  you  think  there  is  any  chance  of  recover- 
ing the  securities  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  That  depends  upon  whether  I  can  secure  a 
discreet  and  trustworthy  messenger." 

"Yes,  sir  ;  I  suppose  that  is  important." 

"  Perhaps  you  can  suggest  some  one  ?  "  said  the 
broker,  eying  Fred  attentively. 

Fred  shook  his  head. 

"  I  have  too  few  acquaintances  to  think  of  any 
one  who  would  be  fit,"  he  answered. 

"  Would  you  undertake  it  yourself  ?  "  asked  Mr. 
Wain  wright. 

"  I  ?  "  stammered  Fred  in  genuine  surprise. 

"Yes." 

**  But  don't  you  think  I  am  too  young  ?  " 

44  Perhaps  your  youth  maybe  a  recommendation." 


192  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  I  don't  see  how,  sir." 

"  By  drawing  away  suspicion  from  you.  Should 
I  send  a  man,  the  appearance  of  a  stranger  in  a 
small  place  like  St.  Victor — I  think  it  has  little 
more  than  a  thousand  inhabitants — would  very 
likely  excite  the  suspicions  of  this  Bowman,  and 
so  defeat  the  chances  of  success." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  see  that." 

"Of  course  your  youth  presents  this  objection— 
that  you  may  not  have  the  requisite  judgment  and 
knowledge  of  the  world  for  so  delicate  a  mission." 

"That  is  what  I  am  afraid  of,  sir." 

"Still,  I  have  observed  you  closely,  and  have 
found  you  prompt,  self-reliant,  and  possessed  01 
unusual  good  sense.  So,  upon  the  whole,  having 
no  other  person  in  my  mind,  I  have  decided  to  send 
you  to  St.  Victor  if  you  will  consent  to  go." 

"  I  will  certainly  go,  sir,  if  you  desire  it,  and  I 
will  do  my  best  to  succeed." 

"  That  is  all  that  any  one  could  do,  whatever 
might  be  his  age  and  experience.  When  will  you 
be  ready  ?  " 

"  To-morrow,  if  you  wish  it,  sir." 

"  The  sooner  the  better.  I  shall  provide  you 
with  ample  funds  to  defray  your  expenses.  As  to 
instructions,  I  have  none  to  give.  You  must  be 
guided  by  circumstances,  and  fall  back  in  times  of 
perplexity  upon  your  natural  shrewdness.  Now 
let  us  address  ourselves  to  the  dinner." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY,  193 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

ST.  VICTOR. 

"So  this  is  St.  Victor,"  said  Fred,  as  he  got  out 
of  the  train  on  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad,  and 
looked  about  him  curiously. 

It  was  a  small,  unpretending  village,  composed 
entirely  of  frame  houses,  of  modest  size,  and  a  few 
small  stores  kept,  as  the  signs  indicated,  by  French- 
men. On  a  little  elevation  stood  a  wooden  Cath- 
olic church,  surmounted  by  a  cross. 

"  It  seems  a  quiet  place,"  thought  Fred.  "  I 
shall  find  it  dull  enough  but  if  I  accomplish  my 
purpose  I  won't  complain  of  that." 

He  scarcely  needed  to  inquire  for  the  village  inn, 
for  it  was  in  plain  sight,  not  a  hundred  yards  from 
the  station.  As  the  town  seemed  to  be  peopled 
chiefly  by  French  residents  it  would  have  been 
natural  to  conclude  that  the  hotel  also  would  be 
French.  This,  however,  was  not  the  case,  for 
the  Lion  Inn  (there  was  a  swinging  signboard 
adorned  by  the  figure  of  a  lion,  the  work  of  a 

13 


194  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY-. 

fourth-rate  sign  painter)  was  kept  by  a  short, 
stout,  red-faced  Englishman,  who  stood  in  the 
doorway  as  Fred  came  up,  valise  in  hand. 

"Is  this  the  hotel?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  should  like  to  stay  with  you  for  a  while/' 

u  All  right,  sir.  Come  right  in,  and  we'll  accom- 
modate you  with  a  room.  Have  you  had  sup- 
per?" 

"No.     I  should  like  some,  for  I  am  very  hun- 

gpy. 

"  It  shall  be  ready  for  you,  sir,  in  a  jiffy.  Will 
'am  and  heggs  suit  you,  sir?  " 

"  Yes,  I  shall  relish  them." 

"  James,  take  the  3'oung  gentleman's  bag  up  to 
No.  5." 

"  I  should  like  water  and  towels,  as  I  have  had 
a  long  and  dusty  ride." 

Fred  was  ushered  into  a  small  bedroom  on  the 
second  floor,  very  plainly  furnished,  but  the  train 
boy  was  not  accustomed  to  luxurious  accommoda- 
tions, and  found  it  satisfactory.  He  indulged  him- 
self in  a  thorough  ablution,  then  sat  down  at  the 
window,  which  was  in  the  front  of  the  house. 

Soon  there  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  the  boy 
James  made  his  appearance. 

"  Please,  sir,  your  supper's  ready,"  he  said. 

44  And  so  am  I,"  returned  Fred  with  alacrity. 

He  descended  to  a  small  dining-room,  adjoining 


TEE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  196 

the  bar.  It  was  not  more  than  twelve  feet  square, 
and  from  its  size  it  might  be  inferred  that  the  Lion 
Inn  was  seldom  overrun  with  guests. 

Fred  sat  down  at  the  table  alone,  but  presently 
a  man  of  thirty-five  or  thereabouts  entered  and 
took  a  seat  opposite  him. 

"  Good  evening,  young  man,"  he  said.  "  Where 
do  you  come  from  ?  " 

"  Good  evening,"  answered  Fred,  civilly.  "  1 
come  from  New  York." 

The  other  arched  his  brows. 

"  So  do  I,"  he  said.  "  What  sent  you  here  to 
this  out-of-the-way  place  ?  " 

"  There's  good  hunting  hereabouts,  isn't  there?" 

"Yes,  are  you  fond  of  hunting?" 

"  I  like  it  pretty  well.  I've  just  had  a  present 
of  a  handsome  rifle." 

It  should  be  mentioned  here  that  before  Fred 
left  New  York  Mr.  Wainwright  had  given  him  a 
gun  which  would  serve  him  as  an  excuse  for  his 
journey. 

"  We'll  go  out  together  to-morrow.  My  name's 
Bowman." 

Fred  heard  the  name  with  a  thrill  of  excite- 
ment. Why,  this  must  be  the  man  referred  to  in 
Sinclair's  letter  as  having  instigated  him  to  the 
crime.  He  surveyed  Bowman  with  attention,  tak- 
ing stock  of  him,  so  to  speak.  He  found  him  to 
be  a  man  of  middle  height,  rather  spare  than  stout, 


196  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

with  dark,  shifty  eyes  and  a  sallow  complexion. 
He  wore  a  mustache,  but  no  whiskers. 

"  I  may  find  it  worth  while  to  get  well  acquaint- 
ed with  him,"  thought  Fred.  "  I  shall  be  glad  to 
go  out  with  you,"  he  said  aloud. 

"  That's  all  right !  But  how  does  a  boy  like 
you  happen  to  be  traveling  so  far  from  home  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  vacation,"  said  Fred.  "  I  have  never 
been  in  Canada,  and  thought  it  would  be  some- 
thing new  to  come  here." 

"  I'm  pretty  tired  of  it,  I  can  tell  you." 

"  Then  why  do  you  stay  ?  "  asked  Fred  inno- 
cently. 

"  My  partner's  taken  down  with  rheumatism, 
and  I  can't  leave  him,"  answered  Bowman  in  a 
tone  of  hesitation.  "  When  he  gets  well  I  may  go 
back  to  New  York." 

"  I  doubt  if  you  will,"  thought  Fred. 

"  Were  you  in  a  business  position  in  New  York  ?  " 
asked  Bowman. 

"  I  have  been  for  some  time  train  boy  on  the 
Erie  Railroad,"  answered  Fred,  feeling  that  it 
would  never  do  to  mention  his  connection  with 
Mr.  Wainwright. 

"  Train  boys  don't  usually  have  money  to  spend 
on  vacation  trips,"  said  Bowman  shrewdly. 

"  That's  true,"  laughed  Fred.  "  If  I  had  depend- 
ed on  my  savings,  I  shouldn't  have  been  able  to 
go  farther  than  Hoboken,  or  Coney  Island,  but  a 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  197 

rich  friend  supplied  me  with  a  moderate  sum  for 
expenses." 

"  Then  you  were  in  luck." 

Fred  was  a  little  afraid  that  Bowman  would 
inquire  the  name  of  the  rich  friend,  and  made  up 
his  mind  that  he  would  evade  answering.  How- 
ever, his  companion  showed  no  curiosity  on  the 
subject. 

"Will you  take  a  glass  of  ale  with  me? "asked 
Bowman,  as  he  filled  his  own  glass  from  a  bottle 
beside  his  plate. 

"  No,  thank  you.     I  have  no  taste  for  it." 

"  I  didn't  like  it  myself  at  first  but  I've  come  to 
like  it." 

"  Does  your  partner  board  with  you  at  the 
hotel  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  No,"  was  the  careless  reply.  "  We  have  a 
small  cottage  just  out  of  the  village." 

"  I  wonder  how  he  gets  along  for  meals,"  thought 
Fred. 

However  that  might  be,  Paul  Bowman  didn't 
permit  anxiety  to  interfere  with  his  own  appetite. 
He  did  ample  justice  to  the  supper,  and  so  indeed 
did  Fred.  Fortunately  the  ham  and  eggs  were 
well  cooked,  and  the  loaf  of  bread  was  fresh.  In 
place  of  ale  Fred  contented  himself  with  tea. 

At  length  they  rose  from  the  table. 

"  This  is  a  beastly  hole — St.  Victor,"  I  mean  said 
Bowman,  as  he  led  the  way  to  the  reading-room, 


198  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

*'  but  the  eating  is  fair.  An  Englishman  keeps  the 
inn,  and  though  he  has  no  French  kickshaws  on 
his  table,  he  gives  you  solid  food  and  enough  of  it. 
Do  you  smoke  ?  I  believe  I  have  a  cigar  some- 
where, but  I  smoke  a  pipe  myself." 

"Thank  you,"  answered  Fred,  "but  I  don't 
smoke.  I  used  to  smoke  cigarettes,  but  a  young 
man — an  acquaintance  of  mine — died  of  cigarette 
smoking,  so  the  doctor  said,  and  I  gave  it  up." 

"  Smoking  never  hurt  me  that  I  know  of,"  said 
Bowman.  "  Even  if  it  did,  what's  a  man  to  do  in 
this   dull  hole  ?      Shall  you  stay   here  long  ? " 

"  I  don't  know  how  long.  It's  a  cheap  place  to 
stay  in,  isn't  it  ?  " 

44  Yes,  it  has  that  recommendation." 

44  Then  I  may  stay  a  week  possibly,"  said  Fred 
in  an  off-hand  way. 

"I've  been  here  six  weeks,"  said  Bowman. 

44  Then  you  have  had  a  chance  to  get  well  ac- 
quainted with  St.  Victor." 

44  A  good  deal  better  than  I  want  to  be.  I  was 
just  getting  ready  to  leave,  when  my  partner  had 
a  sharp  attack  of  rheumatism." 

44  Is  he  from  New  York  too  ?  " 

44  No,  from  Philadelphia,"  answered  Bowman 
cautiously,  though  he  had  no  suspicion  that  Fred 
was  other  than  he  represented  himself. 

44 1  have  never  been  in  Philadelphia,"  said  Fred 
Indifferently,  "  what  is  your  partner's  name  ?  " 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  199 

"James  Sinclair,"  answered  Bowman  after  a 
moment's  hesitation.  "  Have  you  ever  heard  that 
name  before  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Where  ?  "  asked  Bowman  quickly. 

"I  had  a  schoolmate  of  that  name." 

"  Oh  !  Yes,  I  suppose  the  name  is  not  an  uncom- 
mon one.     Do  you  play  billiards  ?  " 

"  I  have  seen  it  played." 

"  There  is  a  poor  table  in  the  house.  Such  as  it 
is,  it  may  afford  us  a  little  recreation.  Will  you 
try  a  game?" 

"  Yes,  if  you  will  teach  me." 

Fred  felt  that  it  was  his  policy  to  cultivate  the 
acquaintance  of  Mr.  Bowman,  as  it  might  afford  him 
an  opportunity  to  obtain  the  information  he  desired. 
He  had  never  played  a  game  of  billiards,  but  he 
was  willing  to  try  it. 

"  Come  in,  then,"  said  Bowman. 

He  led  the  way  into  a  room  opposite  the  office, 
where  stood  a  venerable  looking  billiard  table,  prob- 
ably twenty  years  old.  It  had  been  given  to  the 
landlord  some  years  before  by  a  gentleman,  and  it 
had  seen  hard  service  since  then. 

They  played  one  game,  and  were  about  to  com- 
mence another  when  a  small  girl  with  blaok  hair 
cut  short  entered  the  room. 

"Monsieur  Bowman,"  she  said,  "your  frie»i 
would  like  to  see  you.     He  feels  quite  bad." 


200  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Plague  take  it !  "  said  Bowman  pettishly.  "  I 
can  do  him  no  good,  but  I  suppose  I  shall  have 
to  go." 

"  Is  it  your  partner  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"Yes." 

"If  you  don't  mind  I  will  walk  over  with  you." 

"Glad  of  your  company.  Claudine,  tell  Mr. 
Sinclair  that  I  will  be  with  him  directly." 

"  Oui,  monsieur"  and  the  little  girl  vanished. 

"  I  wish  Sinclair  would  get  well — or  something," 
grumbled  Bowman,  as  they  walked  to  the  lower 
end  of  the  main  street  of  the  village.  "  It's  hard 
luck  for  me  to  be  tied  to  a  sick  man." 

"  Still  he  has  the  worst  of  it,"  suggested  Fred, 
who  was  not  altogether  pleased  with  the  cold  selfish- 
ness of  his  companion. 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so ;  but  it  isn't  right  that  I  should 
suffer  for  his  misfortune." 

"  Do  you  employ  a  doctor?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  called  in  a  doctor  once — a  Frenchman— 
Dr.  St.  Hilaire.  He  left  some  medicines,  and  Sin- 
clair takes  them." 

"  He  doesn't  seem  to  get  better,  then  ?  " 

"  At  any  rate  he  is  very  slow  about  it,"  said  Bow- 
man, who  spoke  as  if  his  unfortunate  friend  were 
in  fault. 

At  last  they  reached  the  cottage.  It  was  very 
small,  containing  three  rooms  and  an  attic.  Bow- 
man opened  the  door,  and  entered  what  might  per- 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  201 

haps  be  designated  as  the  siting-room,  though  it 
contained  a  bed,  on  which,  propped  up  by  pillows, 
lay  James  Sinclair. 

"  What's  amiss  with  you,  Sinclair  ?  "  grumbled 
Bowman. 

"  Everything  is  amiss.  You  have  left  me  alone 
aU  day." 

"  What  good  could  I  do  you  if  I  were  here  ?  It 
would  only  mope  me  to  death." 

"  I  have  had  nothing  to  eat  since  morning,  except 
a  boiled  egg^ 

"  Why  not  ?  Couldn't  you  send  Claudine  after 
food?" 

"  Of  what  use  would  that  be,  when  I  had  no 
money  to  give  her  ?  I  warrant  you  have  had  your 
regular  meals." 

"  I  took  my  meals  at  the  hotel — it  was  more  con- 
yenient." 

"  I  warrant  me  you  took  care  to  provide  for  your- 
self. At  least  give  me  some  money  so  that  I  may 
not  quite  starve." 

"  Money,  money,  all  the  time  !  Do  you  know, 
Sinclair,  our  stock  is  running  very  low  ?  " 

"I  demand  my  share  of  it  as  long  as  it  lasts. 
You  take  advantage  of  my  helplessness " 

"  There's  a  dollar !  Mind  you  make  it  last  as 
long  as  possible,"  said  Bowman.  "  It  will  be  well 
to  put  off  your  complaints  till  another  time,  for  I 
have  brought  company." 


202  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

He  signaled  to  Fred,  who  had  remained  outside, 
to  enter,  and  the  boy  did  so.  He  regarded  the 
sick  man  with  interest  and  sympathy,  not  alone 
because  he  seemed  in  sorry  plight,  and  ill  treated 
by  his  companion  in  crime,  but  also  because  he 
was  clearly  the  less  guilty  of  the  two,  and  seemed 
disposed  to  make  amends  to  the  man  whom  he 
had  wronged. 

James  Sinclair,  unprepared  for  the  advent  of  a 
boy,  regarded  him  with  surprise. 

"  Who  is  this  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  My  name  is  Fred  Fenton,"  answered  the  train 
boy,  remembering  that  Bowman  was  as  yet  igno- 
rant of  his  name. 

"  He  is  a  guest  at  the  inn,"  explained  Bowman 
carelessly.  "  He  arrived  to-night.  He  will  be 
some  company  for  me  in  this  dull  hole.  We  were 
playing  a  game  of  billiards  when  Claudine  broke 
in  and  told  me  you  wanted  to  see  me.  I  expected 
to  find  you  at  the  point  of  death,"  he  finished 
impatiently. 

"  That  may  come  sooner  than  you  think,"  said 
Sinclair.  "  May  I  ask  where  you  come  from, 
young  man  ?  "  he  added,  in  a  tone  of  suppressed 
eagerness  which  Fred  well  understood. 

"  I  come  from  New  York,"  answered  the  boy, 
trying  to  throw  a  degree  of  significance  into  this 
brief  answer, 

"  From  New  York !  "  said  Sinclair,  in  some  ex- 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  203 

citement,  and  trying  to  read  in  Fred's  face  whether 
he  was  the  expected  messenger.  "  You  have  come 
— for  your  health,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Not  exactly  for  that,  for  my  health  is  always 
good,  but  I  thought  it  might  be  a  pleasant  place  to 
spend  an  unexpected  holiday  that  has  been  granted 
me. 

"  Pleasant !  "  repeated  Bowman  scornfully.  "  If 
you  can  find  anything  pleasant  at  St.  Victor,  you 
will  have  greater  luck  than  I." 

"  Is  Claudine  in  the  kitchen  ?  "  asked  the  sick 
man.     "  Claudine !  "  he  called,  raising  his  voice. 

"  Yes,  monsieur,"  answered  the  little  handmaid, 
appearing  at  the  door. 

"  Go  to  the  baker's  and  buy  a  loaf  of  bread. 
Here  is  money.     Is  there  any  tea  left  ?  " 

"  Yes,  monsieur." 

"  Then  buy  a  cupful  of  milk,  and  half  a  pound 
of  sugar.  I  am  almost  famished.  A  cup  of  tea 
and  some  toast  will  put  new  life  into  me." 

Claudine  departed  on  her  errand,  and  Sinclair 
once  more  fixed  his  eyes  on  Fred.  There  was  a 
question  he  very  much  wished  to  ask,  but  in  Bow- 
man's presence  he  could  not  do  it  safely. 


204  THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

FEED  TAKES  THE  FIEST  STEP. 

"  And  so  you  come  from  New  York  ?  "  Sinclair 
repeated,  for  the  want  of  something  better  to  say* 

"  When  did  you  leave  the  city,  may  I  ask?" 

"  On  Tuesday." 

"  Then  you  came  directly  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  came  directly  here." 

•'  You  must  then  have  heard  of  St.  Victor  before 
starting." 

"Yes." 

"Yet  I  fancy  it  is  so  obscure  that  its  existence 
«san  be  known  to  very  few  in  the  great  city." 

"  I  presume  you  are  right.  I  was  recommended 
to  come  here  by  a  friend." 

"  Ah  !  commented  James  Sinclair,  beginning  to 
think  he  was  right,  though  it  seemed  to  him  very 
strange  that  Mr.  Wainwright  should  have  selected 
so  young  a  messenger.  "  I  should  like  to  see  New 
York  once  more." 

"Who  wouldn't?"  interposed  Bowman  impa- 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  205 

tiently.     "In  New  York  you  can  live.     Here  in 
St.  Victor  one  can  only  vegetate." 

"  Don't  you  expect  to  go  back  to  New  York 
some  day,  Mr.  Sinclair?"  asked  Fred. 

"I  don't  know;  I  hope  so." 

"  When  our  business  in  Canada  is  completed," 
said  Bowman,  "  we  shall  probably  both  go  back." 

"  Are  you  going  to  sleep  here  to-night,  Bow- 
man?" asked  Sinclair. 

"  No,  I  think  not.  I  have  taken  a  room  in  the 
hotel." 

"  You  must  do  as  you  like,  of  course,  but  it  is 
lonely  for  me.     Besides  I  might  need  assistance." 

"  Let  the  girl  stay  here,  then.  I  should  make 
a  miserable  sick  nurse.  I  will  ask  young  Fenton, 
here  if  it  is  reasonable  to  expect  me  to  bury  my- 
self in  such  a  cheerless  place  when  it  will  do  nc 
good." 

Fred  was  disgusted  with  the  man's  selfishness. 
"  If  I  had  a  friend  sick,"  he  said,  "  I  think  I  would 
be  quite  willing  to  keep  him  company." 

"  You  say  so  now,  but  wait  till  the  time  comes." 

"  Your  words,  Mr.  Fenton,"  said  Sinclair,  "  em- 
bolden me  to  ask  you  a  favor." 

"  Name  it,"  said  Fred,  in  a  tone  of  kindly  en- 
couragement. 

"  I  spend  all  my  time  alone,  except  when  Clau- 
dine  is  ministering  to  my  wants.  Your  time  is 
hardly  likely  to  be  very  much  occupied  in  this  dull 


206  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

place.  Can't  you  spare  me  an  hour  or  two  at  your 
convenience  during  the  day  ?  " 

"  You  have  promised  to  go  hunting  with  me  to 
morrow,"  interrupted  Bowman. 

"  That  is  true.  I  will  go  with  you  in  the  fore- 
noon, and  in  the  afternoon  I  will  call  on  Mr. 
Sinclair." 

Bowman  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  It  is  a  rash  promise.  You  will  be  sorry  for 
having  made  it." 

"  I  will  risk  that,"  answered  Fred. 

Sinclair  gave  him  a  grateful  glance.  The  prom- 
ise cheered  him,  and  kindled  hopes  in  his  breast. 
Now  he  would  have  a  chance  of  learning,  when 
alone  with  Fred,  whether  he  came  as  a  messenger 
from  Mr.  Wainwright.  If  so,  and  through  his 
means  he  could  make  restitution  and  regain  his 
place  and  lost  character,  he  would  still  have  some- 
thing to  live  for.  He  execrated  his  folly  in  weakly 
submitting  to  the  guidance  of  Paul  Bowman,  and 
for  having  taken  that  first  step  in  crime,  which  is 
so  difficult  to  retrace. 

"  Don't  forget  your  promise,"  he  said  earnestly, 
as  Fred  rose  to  go. 

"  I  won't  fail  you,"  replied  Fred  quietly. 

"  You're  in  for  it  now,"  remarked  Bowman,  as 
they  started  to  walk  home.  "  You  might  as  well 
turn  sick  nurse  at  once  as  give  up  your  time  to 
Sinclair." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  207 

"  I  might  be  sick  some  time  myself,"  said  Fred, 
and  in  that  case  I  should  be  sorry  to  be  left  alone." 

"  Oh,  well,  suit  yourself,"  said  Bowman  care- 
lessly. "  I'd  rather  it  would  be  you  than  me,  for 
that  matter.  I  shall  expect  you  to  go  out  to  the 
woods  with  me  in  the  forenoon." 

"  All  right !  " 

"  Well,"  thought  Fred,  as  he  slipped  into  bed  at 
ten  o'clock.  "I've  made  a  beginning.  I  have 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  both  parties  to  the 
robbery.     The  next  step  will  be  more  difficult." 


208  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

A  HUNTING  EXCURSION. 

Feed  did  not  rise  till  eight  o'clock  the  next 
morning.  He  was  fatigued  by  his  long  journey, 
and  slept  late.  When  he  descended,  he  found 
Bowman  seated  at  the  breakfast-table. 

"  I  got  ahead  of  you,"  said  Bowman. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  downstairs  ?  " 

"  About  ten  minutes." 

"  Are  we  likely  to  have  a  good  day  for  hunt- 
ing?" 

"  Good  enough,"  answered  Bowman,  indiffer- 
ently. "  I  am  not  an  enthusiastic  sportsman.  I  only 
take  to  it  to  fill  up  a  part  of  my  time.  It  is  about 
the  only  thing  I  can  do  in  this  dull  hole." 

"  You  might  read.  I  brought  two  or  three  novels 
in  ray  valise,  and  will  lend  you  one  if  you  care 
for  it." 

"  I  don't  care  for  reading.  Stories  tire  me.  I 
used  to  read  the  daily  papers  in  New  York,  but 
can't  get  hold  of  any  here — New  York  dailies,  I 
mean.  I  don't  care  for  Canadian  papers  unless 
they  contain  news  from  New  York." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  209 

"  I  have  with  me  the  Tribune,  World  and  Sun,  of 
day  before  yesterday." 

"I  should  like  to  see  them,"  said  Bowman,  eagerly. 
"If  you  will  bring  them  down,  I  will  look  over 
them  in  the  woods." 

"  All  right !  I  am  glad  I  saved  them.  I  had  a 
mind  to  throw  them  away,  or  leave  them  in  the 
car." 

The  breakfast  was  plain,  but  Fred  and  Bowman, 
who  were  the  only  guests,  were  not  difficult  to  suit. 

Ten  minutes  later  they  were  on  their  way  to 
the  woods.  They  went  across  the  fields,  taking  a 
footpath  trodden  in  the  snow,  which  materially 
shortened  the  distance.  But  even  tramping  this 
far  tired  Bowman,  and  when  they  reached  a  small 
rock  that  cropped  out  from  the  expanse  of  white, 
he  declared  that  he  must  rest  awhile. 

He  took  a  seat  on  the  bowlder  and  began  to  read 
one  of  the  papers  he  had  brought  with  him. 

Five  minutes  later  he  uttered  an  exclamation  of 
surprise.     Fred  looked  at  him  inquiringly. 

"  Do  you  find  news  of  any  of  your  friends  ?  " 
he  asked. 

"  Yes,  Teddy  Donovan  has  escaped  from  Sing 
Sing." 

"  That's  the  bank  burglar,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  one  of  the  smartest  men  in  the  pro- 
fession." 

"  You  know  him,  then?  " 
14 


210  THE  EBIE  TBAIJST  BOY. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Bowman.  "  I  got  acquainted 
with  him  some  years  ago.  Of  course,"  he  added, 
feeling  some  explanation  necessary, "  I  didn't  know 
that  he  was  a  burglar  till  later.  Poor  fellow,  it  is 
his  only  fault." 

Fred  was  privately  of  opinion  that  it  was  rather 
a  serious  fault. 

"  He's  a  smart  fellow,"  Bowman  continued. 
"  and  he  led  the  police  a  long  chase  before  they 
nabbed  him.  I've  often  urged  him  to  turn  over  a 
new  leaf  and  lead  an  honest  life  or  he'd  fetch  up 
in  prison,  but  he  only  laughed,  and  that  was  all 
the  good  it  did.  I  wish  Teddy  would  find  his  way 
up  here." 

"  Do  you  think  he  will  be  able  to  elude  recap- 
ture?" 

"  Well,  he's  sharp  enough  for  almost  anything." 

"  I  suppose  there  are  a  good  many  men  of  his 
kind  in  Canada,"  said  Fred  innocently. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Bowman,  adding  in  a  jocular 
tone.  "  I  didn't  know  but  that  might  have  brought 
you  here." 

"  Oh  no !  '*  laughed  Fred.  "  I'm  as  straight  and 
honorable  as  you  are." 

"  Good  joke  !  "  exclaimed  Bowman,  slapping  his 
thigh.     "Shake!" 

Bowman  extended  his  hand,  and  Fred  shook  it, 
though  it  was  not  clear  to  him  what  the  joke  was 
or  why  he  should  shake  hands  with  his  companion 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  EOT.  211 

because  they  both  happened  to  be  straight  and  hon- 
orable. 

The  hunt  was  now  begun,  for  Fred  caught  sight 
of  a  jack  rabbit  skimming  across  the  snow.  He 
lifted  his  gun,  and  was  fortunate  enough  to  bring 
his  game  down.  This  fired  Bowman  with  the  spirit 
of  emulation,  and  putting  the  papers  back  in  his 
pocket,  he  started  off  in  search  of  a  companion 
trophy  to  that  of  his  young  friend. 

He  did  not  find  it  until  the  ex-train  boy  had 
knocked  over  two  more  "bunnies,"  and  as  Fred 
continued  to  keep  ahead  of  him  in  the  amount  of 
game  bagged,  Mr.  Paul  Bowman  soon  became  dis- 
gusted and  proposed  a  return  to  the  hotel,  where 
he  would  have  an  opportunity  to  finish  his  perusal 
of  the  New  York  papers  by  the  reading-room  stove. 

As  Fred's  nose  was  being  nipped  by  the  frost, 
and  he  felt  that  he  had  wrought  sufficient  destruc- 
tion among  the  rabbit  tribe,  he  readily  fell  in  with 
the  suggestion. 

Half  an  hour  later  he  was  thawing  himself  out 
when  Bowman  suddenly  looked  up  from  the  World 
and  asked  abruptly : 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  of  John  Wainwright,  the 
broker  and  banker  ?  " 

Fred  was  on  his  guard  and  answered  cautiously : 

"  Yes,  I  believe  I  have  heard  of  him.  He  has  an 
office  on  Broadway,  hasn't  he  ?  " 

"No,  on  Wall  Street." 


212  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Did  you  ever  work  for  him  ?  " 

"  No ;  but  an  acquaintance  of  mine  did,"  said 
Bowman  carelessly.  "  He's  got  a  pile  of  money,  I 
expect." 

"  Very  likely.  Most  bankers  have,  haven't 
they?" 

"  I  suppose  so,  but  they're  not  in  my  line.  I 
used  to  be  a  dry  goods  clerk." 

"In  New  York?" 

"  No,  in  Baltimore." 

"I  don't  know  anything  about  Baltimore." 

If  Bowman  at  any  time  entertained  any  sus* 
picions  about  Fred  they  were  dissipated  by  his  next 
remark. 

"I  might  like  to  go  to  Baltimore  to  work. 
Would  you  recommend  me  to  the  firm  you  used  to 
work  for  ?  " 

"I  believe  they  have  gone  out  of  business,  but 
you'd  better  stick  to  New  York,  youngster.  There's 
better  chances  there  than  in  Baltimore." 

The  gong  for  dinner  now  sounded,  and  as  their 
tramp  through  the  snow  had  given  them  both  good 
appetites,  they  lost  no  time  in  answering  its  sum- 
mons. 

When  dinner  was  over  Bowman  asked: 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  yourself  this 
afternoon  ?  " 

"  I  promised  to  call  on  your  friend  in  the  cottage. 
Will  you  go  with  me  ?  " 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY,  213 

"  Not  I.  I  can  fill  up  my  time  more  agreeably. 
You  will  find  it  awfully  stupid." 

"  Very  likely ;  but  I  like  to  keep  my  promises." 

"  The  landlord's  going  to  ride  to  Hyacinth,  about 
ten  miles  away,  on  business.  He's  invited  me  to 
ride  with  him.  I  wish  there  were  room  in  the 
sleigh  for  you." 

"  I  can  put  that  off  till  another  time.  I  hope 
you  will  have  a  pleasant  ride." 

"It  will  fill  up  the  time,  anyway." 

"  Have  you  any  message  to  your  partner  ?  "  asked 
Fred,  as  he  stood  ready  to  start  on  his  walk. 

"  No.  Tell  him  to  get  well  as  fast  as  he  can,  so 
that  we  can  get  away  from  this  beastly  place. 
That's  all." 

James  Sinclair  was  lying  on  the  bed  with  a  look 
of  weariness  on  his  face  when  Fred  pushed  open 
the  outer  door  and  entered. 

Sinclair's  face  brightened  up. 

"  You  didn't  forget  your  promise,  Mr.  Fenton  ?  " 
lie  said. 

"  No,  I  always  keep  my  promises  when  I  can." 

"  You  are  very  kind  to  a  poor  sick  man.  You 
have  no  idea  how  long  the  hours  seem  in  this 
quiet  cottage  with  no  one  to  look  at  or  speak  to 
but  Claucline." 

"  I  can  imagine  it." 

"  And  Claudine  understands  very  little  English. 
Most  of  the  people  in  St.  Victor,  as  I  suppose  you 
know,  are  French." 


214  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  I  judged  this  from  the  signs  over  the  shops.  ' 

uVery  few  English-speaking  people  find  their 
way  here.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  I  was  some- 
what surprised  to  see  you  here." 

"  I  should  not  have  come  here,"  returned  Fred 
pointedly,  "  if  you  had  not  been  here." 

"You  came  here  to  see  me?"  ejaculated  Sin- 
clair in  excitement. 

"Yes." 

"  Then  you  must  come  from  Mr.  Wainwright." 

"  Yes,  I  come  from  him  in  response  to  the  letter 
which  he  received  from  you." 

"  Thank  God  1 "  said  Sinclair,  fervently. 


TME  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  ,215 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

FRED  HAS  AN  UNDERSTANDING  WITH  SINCLAIR. 

"  Mr.  Wainwright  showed  me  the  letter  you 
wrote  to  him,"  went  on  Fred. 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  Sinclair,  looking  puzzled, 
"  but  you  seem  very  young  to  be  taken  into  Mr. 
Wain wright's  confidence." 

"  I  am  only  seventeen." 

"  I  don't  understand  it." 

"  Nor  do  I,"  answered  Fred,  smiling,  "  but  Mr. 
Wainwright  is  right  in  supposing  that  I  will  do 
my  best  for  him." 

"Does  he  give  you  full  powers  in  this  mat- 
ter?" 

"  Read  this  letter  and  you  can  judge  for  your- 
self." 

The  sick  man  eagerly  held  out  his  hand,  and 
read  carefully  the  letter  which  Fred  placed  in  it. 
It  ran  thus : 

James  Sinolaib  :  The  bearer  of  this  letter  has  full  powers 
to  treat  with  you.    I  am  glad  you  realise  the  wrong  you 


216  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

have  done  m»,  and  am  prepared  to  consider  your  case  in  a 
generous  spirit.  The  theft  is  known  only  to  those  who 
committed  it,  my  young  messenger  and  myself.  On  the 
return  of  the  bonds  I  will  take  you  back  into  my  employ- 
ment. John  "VVainweight. 

Tears  came  to  the  eyes  of  Sinclair. 

"  How  kind  and  considerate  Mr.  Wainwright 
is  !  "  he  said  in  a  tone  of  emotion.  "  Read  this 
letter." 

"  You  are  right,  but  I  would  do  the  same." 

Sinclair  extended  his  hand  which  Fred  shook 
cordially. 

"  I  am  not  as  bad  as  you  may  suppose.  It  was 
Bowman  who,  by  his  artful  hints  and  allurements, 
induced  me  to  rob  my  employer.  I  have  never 
ceased  to  repent  it." 

"  Are  you  prepared  to  restore  the  bonds  ?  That 
will  set  you  right." 

"  When  I  wrote  the  letter  I  was  prepared,  but 
now  I  must  depend  on  you  to  find  them." 

"  You  don't  know  where  they  are  ?  "  asked  Fred 
in  dismay. 

"  No.  You  see  that  trunk  at  the  other  end  of 
the  room  ?  " 

»  Yes." 

"  They  were  there  until  three  days  ago.  Then 
Bowman,  who  kept  the  key,  opened  the  trunk  in 
my  presence,  and  took  out  the  package  of  bonds, 
locking  the  trunk  after  him. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  217 

" '  What  are  you  doing  ? '  I  asked. 

"  '  Going  to  put  these   bonds  into   a  place   of 

curity,'  he  answered. 

"  *  Are  they  not  safe  in  the  trunk  ? '  I  asked. 

"'No;'  he  replied,  ' suppose,  during  my  ab- 
sence, a  thief  should  enter  the  house  ?  You  are 
confined  to  the  bed  by  rheumatism.  What  resist- 
ance could  you  make  ?  " 

"'But  that  is  very  improbable,'  I  persisted. 

"  '  I  don't  know  about  that.  This  is  a  lonely 
cottage,  and  might  be  entered  at  any  time,'  he 
rejoined. 

" '  Where  are  you  going  to  put  the  bonds  ? '  I 
asked  uneasily. 

"  He  evaded  a  reply,  but  promised  to  tell  me 
when  I  recovered  my  health.  I  protested,  for  we 
were  jointly  concerned  in  the  robbery,  and  half 
the  proceeds  belonged  to  me.  At  any  rate,  I  had 
as  much  title  to  them  as  he.  But  the  contest  was 
not  an  equal  one.  Had  I  been  a  well  man  I  would 
have  forcibly  prevented  his  carrying  out  his  pur- 
pose, but  what  could  I  do,  racked  with  pain  as  I 
was,  and  unable  to  sit  up  in  bed  ?  I  was  worse  off 
then  than  I  am  now." 

"  So  he  carried  off  the  bonds  ?  " 
"  Yes,  and  I  don't  know  where  he  carried  them. 
You  see,  that  complicates  matters." 

"  I  do  see,"  answered  Fred,  perplexed,  "  and  I 
don't  see  the  way  out  of  the  difficulty.     Have  you 


218  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  SOY. 

any  idea  where  he  can  have  concealed  the  secure 
ties?" 

"No." 

"  Do  you  think  he  would  keep  them  in  his  room 
at  the  hotel?  It  is  just  across  the  hall  from  mine, 
on  the  second  floor." 

"  No,  I  don't.  A  hotel  room  would  be  a  much 
less  secure  place  than  this  cottage,  and  Bowman  is 
a  shrewd  man." 

"  That  is  true." 

"  He  has  probably  found  some  outside  place  of 
concealment.  Where,  of  course,  I  can  give  you  no 
hint.  But  I  would  advise  you  to  follow  him,  watch 
his  movements,  and  learn  what  you  can.  He  will 
be  sure  to  visit  the  place  where  the  bonds  are  hid- 
den from  time  to  time,  if  only  to  make  sure  that 
they  are  still  safe." 

"  Then  I  shall  have  to  do  some  detective  work  ?  " 

"  Precisely." 

"  I  have  read  a  good  many  detective  stories,  but 
I  don't  know  that  any  of  them  will  help  me  in  this 
matter.     There  is  one  thing  I  am  afraid  of." 

"  What  is  that  ?  " 

"  You  say  Bowman  is  a  shrewd  man.  He  will 
be  likely  to  find  out  that  I  am  following  him  and 
become  suspicious." 

"  He  would  if  you  were  a  man,  but  as  you  are  a 
boy  he  won't  be  likely  to  think  that  you  are  Wler- 
ested  in  the  matter." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  219 

"  Mr.  Wain wright  was  of  opinion  that  I  should  be 
less  likely  to  excite  suspicion  than  a  grown  man." 

44  The  old  man  is  smarter  than  I  gave  him  credit 
for." 

"  I  see  no  other  way  than  to  follow  your  direc- 
tions.    Are  you  in  much  pain  to-day  ?" 

"  No,  less  than  for  some  time.  I  think  it  is  my 
mental  trouble  that  aggravates  my  plrvsical  malady. 
Now  that  you  are  here,  and  something  is  to  be  done 
to  right  the  wrong  I  have  committed,  I  am  sure  I 
shall  rapidly  recover.  Were  you  with  Bowman 
this  morning?" 

"  Yes,  we  went  out  in  the  woods  together.  I 
had  a  few  New  York  papers  which  he  read  with 
interest." 

"  Have  you  them  with  you  ?  "  asked  Sinclair 
eagerly.  "  You  don't  know  how  I  hunger  for  home 
news." 

"  Yes,  I  brought  them  along,  as  I  thought  you 
might  like  to  read  them." 

"  I  will  read  them  after  you  are  gone.  Now  we 
will  converse." 

"  Have  you  a  family  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  I  am  not  a  married  man  but  I  have  a  mother," 
answered  Sinclair,  his  eyes  filling. 

"  Does  she  know — — " 

"  Of  my  disgrace  ?  No  I  was  obliged  to  tell  a 
falsehood  and  represent  that  I  was  going  to  Canada 
on  business,     I  have  been  in  constant  dread  that 


220  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

my  crime  would  get  into  the  papers  and  she  would 
hear  it.  Poor  mother !  I  believe  that  it  would 
kill  her!" 

"  You  didn't  think  of  that  when  you  took  the 
bonds?" 

"  I  thought  of  nothing.  Bowman  gave  me  no 
time  to  think.  What  I  did  was  done  on  the  im- 
pulse of  the  moment  without  consideration.  Oh, 
if  I  had  only  stopped  to  think  !  "  he  concluded  with 
a  sigh. 

For  Fred  it  was  a  great  moral  lesson.  He  was 
honest  by  nature,  but  there  is  no  one  who  cannot 
be  strengthened  against  temptation.  The  sum 
taken  by  Sinclair  was  large,  but  it  had  not  made 
him  happy.  Probably  he  had  never  been  more 
miserable  than  in  the  interval  that  had  elapsed  since 
his  theft.  Judging  between  him  and  Bowman, 
Fred  felt  sure  that  it  was  Sinclair  who  had  been 
weak,  and  Bowman  who  had  been  wicked.  Now 
his  only  hope  was  to  recover  his  lost  position, 
to  get  back  to  where  he  stood  when  he  yielded 
to  temptation  and  robbed  a  kind  and  considerate 
employer. 

"  Where  is  Bowman  this  afternoon  ? "  asked 
Sinclair. 

"  He  told  me  he  was  going  to  ride  to  Hyacinth 
with  the  landlord.  He  seems  to  find  time  hanging 
heavy  on  his  hands." 

"  He  is  much  better  off  than  I  am.     It  is  bad 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  221 

enough  to  be  sick  but  when  to  this  is  added  a 
burden  of  remorse,  you  can  imagine  that  my  posi- 
tion is  not  enviable." 

At  five  o'clock  Fred  rose  from  his  chair  and  took 
his  hat. 

"I  must  be  going,"  he  said.  "We  have  sup- 
per at  the  hotel  at  six,  and  I  may  as  well  be 
punctual." 

"Will  you  call  again?"  asked  Sinclair,  eagerly. 

"  Yes,  but  perhaps  I  had  better  not  spend  too 
much  time  with  you.  It  may  give  rise  to  sus- 
picions on  the  part  of  your  partner." 

"  Don't  call  him  my  partner  !  I  don't  want  to 
admit  any  connection  between  us.  There  has 
been  a  connection,  it  is  true,  but  as  soon  as  I  can 
bring  it  about  it  will  be  closed,  and  then  I  hope 
never  to  see  or  hear  of  Paul  Bowman  as  long  as  I 
live." 

"  I  shall  get  to  work  to-morrow,"  said  Fred.  "  I 
think  it  will  be  best  for  me  not  to  call  here  till  the 
day  after.  We  must  not  appear  to  be  too  inti- 
mate." 

When  Fred  returned  to  the  hotel  he  found  Bow- 
man just  arrived. 

"  Where  have  you  been  all  the  afternoon  ? " 
asked  Bowman. 

"  Part  of  the  time  I  spent  with  your  friend,  Mr. 
Sinclair." 

"  What  did  he  find  to  talk  about?  "  asked  Bow- 
man, eying  Fred  sharply. 


222  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  Chiefly  about  New  York  and  his  health.  He 
doesn't  seem  contented  here." 

"  No  wonder.  It's  the  dullest  hole  I  was  ever 
in.     Is  he  any  better  ?  " 

"  He  thinks  so." 

"I  wish  he'd  get  well  quick.  I  want  to  go  to 
some  larger  place." 

"  I  suppose  Montreal  is  a  more  interesting  town." 

"Yes,  there  is  something  going  on  there.  We 
were  fools  to  leave  it." 

After  supper  Fred  played  a  few  games  of  billiards 
with  Bowman.  Evidently  he  was  not  suspected 
m  yet. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY,  223 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

FINDING  A  CLEW. 

The  object  which  Fred  had  in  view  now,  was  to 
ascertain  where  Bowman  had  hidden  the  securi- 
ties taken  from  the  trunk  in  Sinclair's  cottage 
Precisely  how  to  set  about  it  he  did  not  know. 
He  had  never  had  any  experience  in  detective 
work,  and  had  only  his  native  shrewdness  to  de- 
pend upon. 

It  occurred  to  him,  however,  that  Bowman 
would  be  likely  from  time  to  time  to  visit  the  place 
where  he  had  secreted  the  bonds  in  order  to  make 
sure  that  they  were  safe.  This  he  was  hardly 
likely  to  do  when  in  Fred's  company,  but  only 
when  alone.  When,  therefore,  he  should  see  Bow- 
man starting  off  on  a  solitary  expedition  he  de- 
cided if  possible  to  follow  him. 

"  Do  you  feel  like  going  out  on  the  river  this 
morning?  "  asked  Bowman,  as  they  rose  from  break* 
fast. 

"I  don't  mind.  It  will  help  to  fill  up  the 
time." 


224  THE  JBIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

For  many  years  such  an  open  winter  had  not 
been  known.  The  unusual  warmth  had  left  the 
lake  as  free  from  ice  as  in  the  early  fall.  But  for 
a  slight  covering  of  snow  there  would  have  been 
nothing  to  indicate  that  it  was  winter. 

"  Your  vacation  is  likely  to  be  a  slow  one  here," 
suggested  Bowman. 

"  Yes;  St.  Victor  isn't  a  very  lively  place." 

"  I  wonder  you  are  willing  to  stay  here,"  said 
Bowman,  with  momentary  suspicion. 

"  I  have  so  much  excitement  in  New  York  and 
in  my  daily  rides  on  the  Erie  road,  that  I  don't 
mind  the  dullness  as  much  as  many  would.  Still 
if  you  and  Mr.  Sinclair  were  not  here,  I  should 
cut  short  my  visit  at  once." 

Bowman  did  not  understand  the  hidden  mean- 
ing of  this  speech,  and  naturally  interpreted  it  in 
a  sense  complimentary  to  himself. 

"  Sinclair  isn't  much  company,"  he  said.  "  He 
is  down  in  the  dumps  on  account  of  his  rheuma- 
tism. I  suppose  he  thinks  I  ought  to  stay  in  the 
cottage  with  him,  but  I  couldn't  stand  it." 

"  I  suppose  you  are  in  business  together,"  ob- 
served Fred,  innocently. 

"  Did  he  say  so  ?  " 

"  Not  exactly,  but  I  inferred  from  what  he  did 
say  that  you  had  some  business  connection." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Bowman,  hesitatingly.  "  We 
iiave  a  joint  investment.     I  don't  think,  however, 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT.  225 

that  we  shall  remain  connected  long.     He  doesn't 
suit  me.     He  is  too  slow  and  cautious." 

Fred  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  comment  on 
this  statement. 

They  went  down  to  the  lake,  aud  were  soon  row- 
ing to  the  middle  of  it.  Here  they  tried  fishing, 
but  did  not  meet  with  much  success.  They  gave 
it  up  and  rowed  across  to  the  opposite  side. 

"  Will  you  take  charge  of  the  boat  for  half  an 
hour  ?  "  asked  Bowman,  turning  to  Fred.  "  I  am 
going  on  shore." 

"  Certainly,  if  you  wish  it." 

"  I  have  a  fancy  for  exploring  these  woods.  I 
would  invite  you  to  go  with  me,  but  the  boat  might 
be  taken,  and  that  would  subject  us  to  some  incon- 
venience." 

"  I  would  just  as  soon  stay  here,"  said  Fred  care- 
lessly. 

"  Then  it's  all  right." 

Fred  watched  Bowman  as  he  made  his  way  in 
among  the  trees,  and  it  struck  him  at  once  that  he 
had  secreted  the  bonds  somewhere  in  the  neighbor- 
hood and  was  about  to  visit  the  hiding-place. 

"  If  I  could  only  leave  the  boat  and  follow  him." 
he  said  to  himself  eagerly.  But  he  decided  at  once 
that  this  would  never  do.  It  would  inevitably  ex- 
cite Bowman's  suspicion,  and  then  his  chance  of 
success  would  be  wholly  gone.  He  must  be  cau- 
tious at  all  hazards. 

15 


226  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

He  did  not  return  to  the  middle  of  the  lake,  but 
rowed  lazily  along  the  shore,  from  time  to  time 
directing  a  glance  toward  the  woods. 

"  To-morrow  I  will  make  an  excuse  for  not  going 
with  Bowman,  and  will  come  out  here  and  do  a  lit- 
tle exploring  myself,"  he  resolved. 

At  one  point  his  attention  was  drawn  to  a  boy 
who  was  sitting  under  a  tree  near  the  edge  of  the 
water. 

"  May  I  get  into  your  boat?  "  he  asked. 

"For  a  short  time.  A  gentleman  is  with  mo 
who  has  gone  on  shore  for  a  little  while." 

"  I  know.     I've  seen  him  here  often." 

"  Have  you  ?  "  asked  Fred  with  interest.  "  So 
he  comes  here  a  good  deal,  does  he  ?  " 

"Yes,  he  comes  here  mostly  alone,  and  goes 
into  the  woods.  Once  me  and  another  boy  got 
into  the  boat  and  rowed  while  he  was  gone." 

"  I  suppose  he  enjoys  walking  in  the  woods." 

"  It  ain't  that,"  said  the  boy  significantly. 

"What  is  it,  then?"  asked  Fred,  trying  to  re- 
press his  excitement. 

"  I  think  he's  got  business  in  the  woods." 

"  What  business  can  he  have  there  ?  " 

"  I  think  he's  got  something  hidden  there." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  You  won't  tell  him  what  I  say,  will  you  ?  " 

"No." 

44 1  saw  him  when  he  first  came  here.    He  had  a 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  227 

bundle  done  up  in  paper.  He  left  the  boat  and 
went  into  the  woods,  and  when  he  came  back  he 
didn't  have  the  paper." 

"  He  may  have  had  it  in  his  pocket." 

"  No,  he  didn't.  It  was  a  big  package,  and  if  it 
had  been  in  his  pocket  it  would  have  made  it  bulge 
out." 

"  I  see  you  are  quite  an  observing  boy.  I  dare 
say  you  are  right.  What  do  you  think  there  was  in 
the  package?" 

"  I  guess  it  was  money.  If  I  had  a  lot  of 
money  I  wouldn't  hide  it  in  the  woods." 

"  Nor  I,"  answered  Fred,  laughing. 

"  I'd  buy  a  trunk  and  keep  it  inside." 

"  Somebody  might  open  the  trunk." 

"  Any  way  it  would  be  safer  than  hiding  it  in 
the  woods." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right.  I  hope  the 
time  will  come  when  you  and  I  will  have  a  lot  of 
money  to  conceal." 

"  Is  the  man  a  friend  of  yours  ? "  asked  the 
boy. 

"  We  are  boarding  at  the  same  hotel.  I  have 
only  known  Mr.  Bowman  two  days." 

"  Is  he  from  the  States  ?  " 

"  Yes.     I  believe  he  came  from  New  York.** 

"  Where  do  you  come  from  ?  " 

"  I  live  in  New  York  too." 


228  THE  EBIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  I'd  like  to  see  New  York.  I'd  go  there  if  my 
father  would  let  me." 

"  I  am  not  sure  but  you  are  better  off  here. 
Some  boys  have  a  hard  time  making  a  liviug  iu 
New  York." 

"  I  thought  everybody  in  New  York  was  rich." 

"  If  you  ever  come  to  New  York  you'll  find  out 
your  mistake,"  rejoined  Fred  laughing. 

"  If  you  ain't  a  friend  of  Mr.  Bowman,  as  you 
call  him,"  said  the  boy,  lowering  his  voice,  "  I'll 
tell  you  something." 

"  I  wish  you  would.  Mr.  Bowman,  is  not  a 
friend  of  mine,  but  there  is  no  one  else  to  keep 
company  with,  so  I  go  round  with  him." 

"  I  know  where  he  has  hidden  his  money." 

"  Is  this  true  ?  "  asked  Fred  in  excitement. 

»  Yes." 

"  But  how  did  you  find  out?" 

"  One  day  I  followed  him.  I  dodged  behind 
trees  and  kept  out  of  sight.  Once  he  came  near 
seeing  me  when  he  looked  back,  but  I  was  just  in 
ime.     By  and  by  he  came  to  the  place." 

"  What  sort  of  a  place  ?  " 

"  Did  I  say  I  would  tell  you  ?  "  asked  the  boy 
shrewdly. 

"  No,  but  I  will  make  it  worth  your  while." 

The  boy  eyed  Fred  with  suspicion,  and  his 
manner  became  cold. 

"  Do  you  want  to  rob  him  ?  "  he  asked. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT.  229 

"No." 

"  Then  why  do  you  want  to  know  where  he  has 
hid  his  money  ?  " 

Fred  deliberated  hurriedly.  There  was  no  way 
except  to  take  the  boy  into  his  confidence. 

"  I  see  you  are  an  honest  boy,"  he  said,  "  and  I 
like  you  better  for  it." 

"  That's  all  right,  but  why  do  you  want  me  to 
tell  you  where  Mr.  Bowman  has  hidden  his 
money  ?  " 

"  Can  you  keep  a  secret?  " 

"  Is  there  a  secret  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  the  package  which  this  man  has  hidden 
contains  bonds  which  he  stole  from  a  New  York 
banker." 

"How  do  you  know  that?" 

"  Because  I  am  sent  to  get  them  back,  if  possible. 
That  is  why  I  have  come  to  St.  Victor,  and  that 
is  why  I  have  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Mr. 
Bowman." 

"  Is  this  true  ?  "  asked  the  boy,  not  wholly  with- 
out suspicion. 

"  Listen  and  I  will  tell  you  the  story.  I  must 
be  quick,  for  Mr.  Bowman  may  be  back  any 
minute." 

"  There  he  is  now." 

"  Meet  me  to-morrow  at  ten  in  the  morning  just 
back  of  the  place  where  you  were  sitting  when  1 
took  you  on  board  the  boat,  and  I  will  tell  you  all. 


230  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

In  the  name  of  Mr.  Wainwright  I  will  agree  to 
pay  you  a  hundred  dollars,  if  by  your  help  I 
recover  the  bonds. 

"  It's  a  bargain ! "  said  the  boy,  his  eyes  spark- 
ling. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  231 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

SUCCESS  ! 

"  "Who  is  that  boy  ?  "  asked  Bowman  carelessly, 
as  he  re-entered  the  boat. 

"  I  don't  know.  He  asked  me  to  take  him  for 
a  little  row,  and  I  was  glad  to  have  him  for  com- 
pany." 

"I  have  been  taking  a  stroll  through  the  woods. 
In  fact,  I  was  brought  up  in  the  woods,"  said 
Bowman  with  a  laugh. 

Fred  understood  that  he  was  trying  to  give  a 
plausible  explanation  of  his  absence. 

"  I  like  the  woods  myself,"  he  rejoined.  "  Do 
they  extend  far  ?  " 

"  Not  very  far.  I  enjoyed  my  stroll  in  among 
the  trees,  even  barren  as  they  are  now  of  leaves, 
verj'  much.  It  brought  back  to  my  mind  my 
schoolboy  days." 

Bowman  seemed  in  quite  good  spirits.  Evidently 
he  had  found  that  his  secret  hiding-place  had  not 
been  discovered. 


232  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  How  much  longer  are  you  going  to  stay  in  St. 
Victor  ?  "  he  asked  after  a  pause. 

"I  don't  know,"  answered  Fred  slowly.  "1 
may  take  a  fancy  to  go  away  any  day." 

"  I  wish  I  could  go  too.  I  am  tired  of  this 
place." 

"  I  suppose  you  are  waiting  for  Mr.  Sinclair  to 
recover." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Bowman,  but  there  was  hesita- 
tion in  his  tone. 

A  sudden  suspicion  entered  Fred's  mind.  Was 
Bowman  meditating  giving  his  confederate  the 
slip,  and  deserting  him,  taking  the  bonds  with 
him  ?  Had  he  perhaps  taken  the  package  from  its 
hiding-place  and  got  it  concealed  about  his  person? 
A  careful  scrutiny  satisfied  Fred  that  this  was  not 
the  case.  But  it  was  quite  possible  that  he  would 
make  another  visit  the  next  day,  and  remove  the 
bonds  then. 

"  I  must  lose  no  time,"  he  thought,  "  or  I  shall 
lose  my  opportunity." 

They  reached  the  hotel  in  time  for  dinner. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  this  afternoon  ? " 
asked  Bowman. 

"  I  haven't  thought  particularly,"  answered  Fred 
indifferently. 

"Suppose  we  play  poker?  The  landlord  has  a 
pack  of  cards." 

"  I  don't  know  the  game." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  233 

"  It  won't  take  long  to  learn.  I  will  show  you 
how  it  is  played." 

"  I  don't  care  for  cards.  I  may  call  on  Mr. 
Sinclair." 

Bowman  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  You  must  enjoy  his  society,"  he  said. 

"  I  don't  go  there  for  enjoyment.  My  visit  may 
cheer  the  poor  man." 

"  All  right !  I'll  see  if  the  landlord  isn't  going 
to  drive  somewhere." 

"  I  hope  he  is,"  thought  Fred.  "  It  will  get 
Bowman  out  of  the  wa,y." 

About  half-past  two  Bowman  entered  the  public 
room  where  Fred  was  reading. 

"  I'm  going  for  a  drive,"  he  announced.  "  I'll 
see  you  at  supper." 

"  Very  well  !  " 

Fred  waited  till  Bowman  drove  out  of  the  yard, 
and  then,  taking  his  gun,  went  off  himself.  But 
he  did  not  turn  his  steps  in  the  direction  of  Sin- 
clair's cottage.  He  had  ascertained  that  there  was 
a  way  of  going  by  land  to  that  part  of  the  woods 
where  he  had  met  his  young  companion  of  the 
morning.  He  had  made  up  his  mind  to  repair  to 
the  spot  now  on  the  chance  of  finding  the  boy,  and 
securing  the  bonds  that  very  afternoon.  He  felt 
that  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost. 

It  would  have  been  easier  and  shorter  to  take  the 
boat,  and  the  landlord  would  have  made  no  objec- 


234  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

tion.  But  some  one  might  see  him  out  on  the  lake, 
and  this  would  excite  Bowman's  suspicions,  espe- 
cially when  he  discovered  that  the  bonds  were  miss- 
ing. So  Fred  chose  the  land  route  as  the  wiser 
one  to  take  under  the  circumstances. 

The  distance  was  quite  two  miles,  but  Fred  did 
not  mind  that.  The  prize  for  which  he  was  striv- 
ing was  to  great  for  him  to  shrink  from  such  a 
trifle  as  that. 

He  reached  the  other  side  of  the  pond,  but  no 
one  was  in  sight.  He  walked  about  anxiously  look- 
ing here  and  there. 

"  I  hope  I  shall  not  have  my  walk  for  nothing," 
he  said  to  himself. 

But  luck  was  in  his  favor.  Walking  at  random 
he  all  at  once  heard  a  boy's  whistle.  He  quickened 
his  steps,  and  almost  directly,  to  his  great  delight, 
he  recognized,  sauntering  along,  the  very  lad  he 
had  taken  out  in  the  boat  in  the  morning. 

"  Hallo,  there  !  "  he  cried. 

The  boy  turned  quickly. 

"Oh,  it's  you,  is  it  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  I  thought  you  were  to  meet  me  to-morrow 
morning." 

"  So  I  was,  but  I  did  not  dare  to  wait.  I  think 
Bowman  will  get  the  bonds  to-morrow,  and  make  a 
bolt  of  it." 

"  Then  what  do  you  propose  to  do  ?  " 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  235 

"  I  want  you  to  get  the  package  for  me  to  day." 

"Do  you  think  I  will  get  into  any  trouble?" 
asked  the  boy  cautiously.  "  It  won't  be  stealing, 
will  it?" 

"It  would  be  if  the  bonds  were  Bowman's,  but 
they  are  not.  They  belong  to  a  rich  banker  in 
New  York,  as  I  have  already  told  you,  and  in  show- 
ing me  where  they  are  you  are  aiding  justice." 

"  Will  I  get  the  hundred  dollars,  sure  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will  guarantee  that.  What  is  your 
name  ?  " 

"  John  Parton." 

"  I  will  take  it  down.  As  soon  as  I  get  back  to 
New  York  I  will  see  that  the  money  is  sent  you." 

"  I'll  chance  it,"  said  the  boy.  "  You  look 
honest,  and  I  believe  you." 

"Go  on,  then,  and  I  will  follow  you." 

John  led  the  way  into  the  thickest  part  of  the 
wood.  He  paused  in  front  of  a  large  tree,  partly 
gone  to  decay.  The  trunk  was  hollow,  containing 
a  large  cavity. 

"  The  package  is  there,"  he  said. 

"  Get  it  for  me,"  returned  Fred,  "  and  there  your 
task  will  end.     I  will  undertake  the  rest." 

In  less  than  five  minutes  the  package  was  placed 
in  Fred's  hands. 

He  opened  his  vest  and  placed  it  inside,  carefully 
pinning  it  to  the  waistcoat,  so  that  it  might  not 
slip  down. 


236  THE  ERIE  TBAIN  BOY. 

"  It  will  be  awkward  to  carry,"  he  said,  "  on 
account  of  its  size.  I  wish  it  were  safe  in  Mr. 
Wain wright's  possession." 

Then  a  new  idea  came  to  him. 

"Is  there  any  express  office  near  here?"  he 
asked. 

"  The  nearest  is  at  Hyacinth,  five  or  six  miles 
away." 

"  I  should  like  to  go  there.  Do  you  know  where 
I  can  hire  a  team  ?  " 

"  We  are  not  using  ours  to-day,"  said  John. 

"  Then,"  said  Fred  promptly,  "  I  will  hire  it, 
paying  any  price  your  father  considers  satisfactory, 
and  I  will  engage  you  to  drive  me  over.  You 
know  the  way  ?  " 

"  I've  been  there  hundreds  of  times." 

"  Then  it  is  all  right.  Do  3^ou  think  we  can 
have  the  team  ?  I'll  pay  two  dollars  for  that,  and 
a  dollar  for  your  services  as  driver." 

"  It's  a  go  !  Come  right  along!  Our  house  is 
less  than  half  a  mile  away." 

Then  the  two  boys  emerged  from  the  woods,  and 
made  their  way  to  a  comfortable  farm-house,  sit- 
uated in  the  midst  of  fertile  fields.  John  went 
into  the  house,  and  presently  came  out  with  his 
mother. 

"  Are  you  the  young  man  that  wants  to  go  to 
Hyacinth  ?  "  she  asked. 

"Yes,  ma'am." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  237 

"Well,  I  don't  know  of  any  objection.  Don't 
stay  too  long." 

"  I'll  be  back  in  time  for  supper,  mother." 

"  Did  your  mother  ask  you  what  I  was  going 
for  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  No ;  I  told  her  you  wanted  to  take  a  ride." 

"  That  will  answer.  I  wish  there  was  enough 
snow  left  for  sleighing." 

The  horse  was  quickly  harnessed  to  an  open 
buggy,  and  the  two  boys  got  in.  John  took  the 
reins,  and  turned  out  of  the  yard.  Soon  they  were 
speeding  over  the  road  that  led  to  Hyacinth.  It 
was  a  pleasant  drive,  but  Fred  was  too  much  oc- 
cupied by  thoughts  of  what  he  carried  to  pay  much 
attention  to  the  scenery. 

At  length  they  turned  into  the  principal  street 
of  Hyacinth. 

The  express  office  was  just  across  the  way  from 
the  railway  depot. 

Fred  entered  and  inquired,  "  How  soon  will 
a  package  start  for  New  York  ?  " 

"  In  about  an  hour." 

"  As  it  is  valuable,  I  will  get  you  to  put  it  up 
securely,  and  seal  it." 

"  Very  well." 

The  agent  wrapped  it  up  in  some  thick  brown 
paper,  gave  it  to  Fred  to  direct,  and  then  laid  it 
carefully  away. 

"  Do  you  wish  to  insure  it  ?  "  he  asked.  "  What 
is  the  value  ?  " 


238  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  I  will  insure  it  for  five  hundred  dollars." 

Fred  knew  that  this  would  secure  extra  care, 
and  he  did  not  care  to  name  the  real  worth  lest  it 
might  tempt  some  employee  to  dishonesty. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  as  they  left  the  office,  "  I  feel 
easy  in  my  mind." 

But  when  the  boys  were  half  way  home,  they 
overtook  another  buggy,  containing  two  occupants. 
One  of  them  was  the  landlord  of  the  Lion  Inn,  the 
other  was  Paul  Bowman. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  239 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

bowman's  panic. 

Paul  Bowman,  who  was  driving,  the  landlord 
having  given  up  the  reins  to  him,  checked  the 
horse  and  hailed  Fred  in  evident  surprise. 

**  Where  have  you  been  ?  "  he  inquired  abruptly. 

"  I  have  been  to  ride,"  answered  Fred,  with  an 
appearance  of  unconcern. 

"  I  thought  you  were  going  to  call  on  Sinclair." 

"  So  I  was,  but  after  you  left  I  decided  to  take 
a  walk  in  another  direction.  I  met  John,  and  en- 
gaged him  to  take  me  to  drive." 

"  Are  you  going  home  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  think  so.  Can  you  take  me  to  the  hotel, 
John  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  his  companion  readily. 

"  Then  we  will  follow  along  behind  Mr.  Bow- 
man." 

Of  course  there  could  be  no  private  conversation, 
so  John  and  he  spoke  on  indifferent  topics.  When 
they  reached  the  hotel  Fred  jumped  from  the 
buggy. 


240  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"  Good-bye,  John,"  he  said.  "  You  will  hear  from 
me  soon,"  he  added  in  a  significant  tone. 

Then  he  joined  Bowman,  who  was  wholly  unsus- 
picious of  the  disaster  that  had  befallen  him. 

"  I  should  like  to  go  over  to  Sinclair's,"  thought 
Fred,  "  but  I  suppose  Bowman  will  expect  me  to 
keep  kim  company." 

But  in  this  he  was  agreeably  disappointed. 

At  seven  o'clock  the  landlord  drove  round,  and 
Bowman  sprang  into  the  buggy. 

"Sorry  to  leave  you,  Fred,"  he  said,  "but  we 
are  going  to  Vaudry  on  a  little  business.  Hope 
you  won't  be  lonely." 

"  Never  mind  me,  Mr.  Bowman.  I  think  I  will 
go  over  to  see  Mr.  Sinclair.  He  will  probably 
expect  me.     Have  you  any  message?" 

Bowman  looked  significantly  at  the  landlord. 

"  Tell  him  I  will  call  to-morrow  or  next  day,"  he 
said.     "  At  present  I  am  very  busy." 

The  two  drove  away,  leaving  Fred  and  a  stable 
boy  named  Jack  looking  after  them. 

"  He's  going  to  skip  to-morrow,"  said  Jack  con- 
fidentially. 

"Who?" 

"  Mr.  Bowman." 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  "  asked  Fred  in  excite- 
ment. 

"  I  heard  him  say  so  to  the  boss.  He  doesn't 
want  you  to  know  it.' 

"Why  not?" 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  241 

He  is  afraid  you  will  tell  his  partner,  the  sick 
man." 

Fred  whistled. 

"  That  is  news,"  he  said.  "  I  suspected  it  might 
be  so,  but  didn't  know  for  sure." 

"  Shall  you  tell  Mr.  Sinclair?" 

"  Yes,  I  think  I  ought  to  do  so." 

"  That's  so  !  He's  a  nicer  man  than  old  Bow- 
man." 

Fred,  immersed  in  thought,  walked  over  to  the 
cottage.     James  Sinclair  received  him  with  evident 

i°y- 

"  I  expected  you  this  afternoon,"  he  said.  "  The 
hours  seemed  very  long." 

"  I  was  employed  on  very  important  business," 
said  Fred  significantly. 

"  You  don't  mean ■" 

"  I  mean,"  said  Fred,  bending  over  and  whisper- 
ing in  the  sick  man's  ear,  "  that  I  have  found  the 
bonds." 

"  Where  are  they  ?  " 

"  On  the  wa}'-  to  New  York,  by  express." 

"  What  a  burden  off  my  heart ! "  ejaculated  Sin- 
clair fervently.  "Tell  me  about  it,"  he  added, 
after  a  pause. 

Fred  did  so. 

"  Now,"  he  added,  "  there  will  be  nothing  to 
prevent  your  coming  to  New  York  and  taking 
your  old  place." 


242  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  I  think  I  shall  recover  now,"  responded  Sin- 
clair. "  Your  news  make  me  feel  fifty,  per  cent 
better." 

"  I  have  more  news  for  you." 

"  What  is  it  ?  " 

"  Bowman  is  planning  to  leave  St.  Victor  to-mor= 
row,  without  a  word  to  you.  He  means  to  leave 
you  in  the  lurch." 

"  He  can  go  now.  I  shall  be  glad  to  part  with 
him — and  forever." 

"  That  is  his  intention,  but  when  he  finds  the 
bonds  have  disappeared,  I  don't  know  what  he 
may  decide  to  do." 

'•  When  do  you  mean  to  start  for  New  York  ?  " 

"  I  would  start  to-night  if  I  could." 

"  You  can.  There  is  a  train  which  passes  through 
St.  Victor  at  ten  o'clock  this  evening.  But,  no, 
on  second  thought  it  goes  to  Ottawa." 

"  I  don't  care  where  it  goes.  I  don't  wish  to  re- 
main in  St.  Victor  any  longer  than  is  absolutely 
necessary.  Besides,  if  Bowman  suspects  and 
follows  me  he  will  be  likely  to  think  I  have  gone 
in  a  different  direction." 

"I  am  sorry  to  have  you  go,  Mr.  Fenton." 

"  We  shall  meet  again  soon,  I  hope  in  New 
York." 

Fred  reached  the  inn  at  nine  o'clock,  left  the 
amount  of  his  bill  in  an  envelope  with  the  boy  Jack, 
and  walked  over  to  the  station,  where  he  purchased 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  243 

a  ticket  for  Ottawa.  While  he  was  in  the  depot 
building  Bowman  and  the  landlord  drove  by.  Be- 
fore they  had  reached  the  inn  the  train  came  up 
and  Fred  entered  the  rear  car. 

He  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief  as  the  cars  quickened 
their  speed  and  St.  Victor  faded  in  the  distance. 

Meanwhile  Bowman  and  the  landlord  reached 
the  hotel.  Jack,  the  stable-boy,  came  forward  and 
took  charge  of  the  team. 

"  Here  is  a  letter  for  you,  Mr.  Bluff,"  he  said. 

"A  letter !"  repeated  the  landlord,  with  a  look 
of  wonder.  He  opened  it  and  uttered  a  cry  of 
surprise. 

"  The  boy's  gone  !  "  he  ejaculated. 

"  What  boy !  "  asked  Bowman,  not  suspecting  the 
truth. 

"  Young  Fenton." 

"  Gone  away  !    What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Read  that." 

He  pased  the  note  to  Bowman,  who  read  as 
follows. 

Dear  Sie  : — I  am  called  away  on  business.  I  enclose  the 
amount  due  you.  If  it  is  not  right  I  will  communicate  with 
you  as  soon  as  I  have  reached  New  York.  Remember  me  to 
Mr.  Bowman. 

Fred  Fenton. 

"  Called  away  on  business !  "  repeated  Bowman 
suspiciously. 


244  TEE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  That  is  queer.  What  did  the  boy  say  ?  "  he 
asked  of  Jack.  "  When  did  he  first  speak  of  going 
away  t 

"  I  think  he  made  up  his  mind  sudden,  sir." 
"Did  he  say  where  he  was  going?" 
"  He  said  he  was  goiu'  back  to  New  York." 
"  Received  a  summons  from  his  employer,  I  sup- 
pose." 

"  Very  likely,  sir." 

"  Do  you  know  if  he  went  to  see  Mr.  Sinclair  ?  " 
"  Yes,  sir.     He  went  fust  part  of  the  eveninV* 
"  Then  Sinclair  can  tell  me  about  it." 
"  Very  likely,  sir." 

Not  daring  to  take  Jack  too  deeply  into  his  con- 
fidence, Fred  had  told  him  that  he  was  going  to  New 
York,  which  was  true,  or  would  be  very  shortly. 

"  If  he  had  waited  till  to-morrow  we  might  have 
gone  together,"  thought  Bowman,  "  at  least  a  part 
of  the  way.  It  will  be  some  time  before  I  shall 
dare  to  set  foot  in  New  York." 

Bowman  went  to  bed  with  a  vague  feeling  of 
uneasiness  for  which  he  could  not  account.  He 
felt  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  remain 
in  the  dull  little  village  any  longer.  Should  he, 
or  should  he  not,  go  to  see  Sinclair  before  he  went 
away  ?  On  the  whole  he  resolved  to  secure  the 
bonds  first,  and  then  decide. 

The  next  day  after  breakfast  he  strolled  down 
to  the  lake,  got  out  the  boat,  and  rowed  rapidly 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  245 

toward  the  farther  shore.  There  was  no  time  to 
waste  now.  He  tied  the  boat  to  a  sapling  growing 
close  to  the  bank,  and  struck  into  the  woods. 

He  made  his  way  at  once  to  the  tree  which  he 
had  used  as  a  safe  deposit  vault,  and  with  perfect 
confidence  thrust  in  his  hand.  Bat  the  package 
which  his  fingers  sought  for  seemed  to  have  slipped 
out  of  reach.  He  continued  his  search  anxiously, 
with  increasing  alarm,  but  in  vain. 

A  terrible  fear  assailed  him.  He  peered  in 
through  the  cavity,  but  neither  sight  nor  touch 
availed.  Gradually  the  terrible  thought  was  con- 
firmed—the parcel  had  been  stolen  !  Thirteen 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  nearly  the  entire 
proceeds  of  his  crime,  had   vanished — but  where? 

He  staggered  to  a  stump  close  by,  and  sitting 
down,  buried  his  face  in  his  hands.  What  was  he 
to  do  ?     He  had  but  twenty- five  dollars  left. 

"  Who  can  have  taken  it?  "  he  asked  himself 
with  feverish  agitation. 

He  rose  and  made  his  way  mechanically  back  to 
the  boat. 

An  hour  later  he  staggered  into  the  little  cottage 
occupied  by  his  sick  partner.  His  hair  was  dis- 
heveled, his  manner  wild. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Bowman?  "  asked  Sinclair. 

"We  are  ruined!"  said  Bowman  in  a  hollow 
voice.     "  The  bonds  are  gone  !  " 

"  When  did  you  miss  them  ? "  asked  Sinclair 
quickly. 


246  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  To-day.  They  were  safe  yesterday.  Do  you 
think  it  was  the  boy  ?  " 

"  What  could  he  know  of  the  bonds  ?  Did  you 
ever  speak  to  him  about  them  ?  " 

"  Of  course  not.    What  shall  I  do  ?  " 

"  Inquire  whether  any  one  has  been  seen  near 
the  place  where  you  hid  them.  Do  your  best  to 
recover  them." 

This  advice  struck  Bowman  favorably.  He  de- 
voted the  remainder  of  the  day  to  the  inquiry,  but 
learned  nothing.  There  was  no  further  occasion 
to  remain  in  St.  Victor.  He  left  the  inn  in  the 
evening,  forgetting  to  pay  his  reckoning. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  247 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

feed's  reward. 

John  Watnwright,  the  wealthy  banker,  sat  in 
his  office  looking  over  the  letters  that  had  come 
by  the  morning  mail.  Some  of  them  he  turned 
over  to  his  confidential  clerk  to  answer.  Others, 
more  important,  he  reserved  to  reply  to  with  his 
own  hand. 

"  Busy,  Wainwright  ?  "  asked  a  gentleman,  Ar- 
thur Henderson,  entering  without  ceremony. 

"  I  always  have  something  in  hand,  but  I  have 
time  enough  for  an  old  friend." 

"  By  the  way,  have  you  heard  anything  of  the 
bonds  you  lost  some  time  since  ?  '' 

"  I  know  where  they  are." 

"  You  do  ?  " 

"  Yes,  they  are  in  Canada." 

Henderson  laughed. 

"  That  means  that  you  will  never  get  them 
back." 

"1  don't  know.  I  have  sent  a  messenger  to 
recover  them." 


248  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"Who  is  it?" 

"  My  office  boy." 

Henderson  stared. 

"  I  suppose  that  is  a  joke." 

"  By  no  means." 

"  What  is  the  age  of  your  office  boy  ?" 

"  I  should  judge  from  his  appearance  that  he  is 
sixteen." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  have  intrusted 
a  boy  of  sixteen  with  so  important  a  commission?" 

"I  do." 

"Really,  Wainwright,  I  don't  like  to  criticise, 
but  it  appears  to  me  that  you  have  taken  leave  of 
your  senses." 

The  banker  laughed  good-humoredly. 

"  Perhaps  I  ought  not  to  be  surprised  at  that." 

"  Then  you  acknowledge  your  lack  of  wis- 
dom?" 

"  By  no  means.  What  I  have  done  I  would  do 
again." 

"  Couldn't  you  find  a  more  suitable  messenger?  " 

"  Not  readily." 

"  It  would  have  been  worth  while  to  go  yourself, 
as  the  amount  is  considerable." 

"  That  would  never  have  answered.  I  should 
be  recognized,  and  excite  suspicion." 

"  Do  you  really  expect  that  boy  to  recover  the 
bonds?" 

"  I  think  it  possible,  at  any  rate." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  249 

"  Suppose  he  does,  what  is  to  hinder  his  keeping 
them  himself?" 

"  His  honesty." 

"Pardon  me,  Wainwright,  but  I  have  had  a 
pretty  extensive  experience,  and  I  would  be  will- 
ing to  wager  ten  to  one  that  you  will  never  see  your 
bonds  again." 

"  I  never  bet,  and  hold  that  betting  is  no  argu- 
ment. But  I  too  have  had  some  experience  of 
men  and  consider  my  chance  of  recovering  the 
stolen  property  fairly  good." 

"  How  long  since  your  messenger  started  on  his 
expedition?" 

"  About  two  weeks." 

"  Have  you  heard  from  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  once.  There  are  reasons  why  it  is  im- 
prudent for  him  to  write  too  often." 

Henderson  smiled  significantly. 

"  I  dare  say  he  is  having  a  good  time  at  your  ex- 
pense.    What  was  the  amount  of  your  loss?  " 

"  About  fifteen  thousand  dollars." 

"  Since  you  won't  bet,  I  will  make  you  a  propo- 
sal. If  the  boy  recovers  your  bonds  and  restores 
them  to  you  I  will  offer  him  a  place  in  my  own 
counting-room  at  twenty  dollars  a  week." 

"I  don't  think  in  that  case  I  should  be  willing 
to  lose  his  services.  I  would  pay  him  as  much  as 
he  could  get  elsewhere." 

"  There  is  very  little  chance  of  my  being  called 
upon  to  redeem  my  promise." 


250  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

At  that  moment  an  express  messenger  entered 
the  office. 

"  Here  is  a  parcel  for  you  sir,"  he  said. 

It  was  a  small  package  wrapped  in  brown  paper, 
carefully  tied  and  sealed. 

John  Wainwright  paid  the  express  charges,  re- 
ceipted for  the  package,  and  then  eagerly  opened 
it. 

It  was  the  same  package  which  Fred  had  ex- 
pressed from  Hyacinth. 

The  banker's  eyes  were  full  of  triumph. 

"  What  do  you  say  to  that,  my  friend  ? "  he 
asked. 

"What  is  it?" 

"  The  missing  bonds.  Nothing  could  have  hap- 
pened more  apropos." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say " 

"  Listen.  Let  me  read  you  this  letter  from  the 
messenger  you  thought  me  foolish  in  sending  to 
Canada." 

Here  is  a  copy  of  Fred's  letter. 

John  Wainwright,  Esq. 

My  Dear  Sir  :  I  have  at  length  recovered  the  bonds 
■which  were  stolen  from  you,  and  send  them  by  express 
herewith.  I  have  not  time  to  go  into  details,  but  will  only 
say  that  I  found  them  in  a  hollow  tree.  I  secured  them  in 
the  nick  of  time,  for  I  have  reason  to  think  that  to-morrow 
they  would  have  been  removed  by  Bowman,  who  has  got 
tired  of  St.  Victor,  and  will  probably  leave  the  neighborhood 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  251 

to-morrow.  I  do  not  dare  to  keep  the  bonds  in  my  posses- 
sion, as  I  may  be  followed,  but  consider  it  safer  to  express 
them  to  you  at  once.  I  shall  go  back  to  New  York  by  a 
roundabout  way,  but  shall  probably  arrive  very  nearly  as 

soon  as  the  package. 

Yours  respectfully, 

Feed  Fenton. 

P.  S.  The  money  and  U.  S.  bonds  have  been  used,  but 
you  will  find  $13,500  in  other  securities  in  this  package. 
They  would  have  been  spent  too,  but  the  holder  found  it 
impossible  to  negotiate  them. 


"  There,  Henderson,  what  do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 
asked  Mr.  Wainwright,  in  a  quiet  tone  of  triumph. 
"  I  was  a  fool,  was  I,  to  trust  this  boy  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  say,  but  rny  offer  holds 
good.  If  you  will  release  the  boy  I  will  take  him 
into  my  employment  at  twenty  dollars  a  week." 

"  I  will  give  him  as  much  as  he  can  get  else- 
where," repeated  the  banker. 

There  was  a  quick  step  heard  outside,  and  Fred 
Fenton  entered  the  office. 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Wainwright,"  he  said. 
"  Did  you  receive  the  package  ?  " 

"  It  just  reached  me,  Fred.  Shake  hands,  my 
boy.      You  have  justified   my  confidence  in  you." 

"  I  did  my  best,  sir." 

"  Tell  me  all  about  it.     My  curiosity  is  excited." 

Fred  gave  a  rapid  account  of  his  adventures  in 
search  of  the  missing  bonds.      It  was  listened  to 


252  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

with  equal  interest  by  the  banker  and  his  friend. 

"Wainwright,  introduce  me,"  said  Henderson 
abruptly. 

"  Fred,"  said  the  banker  smiling,  "  let  me  make 
you  acquainted  with  my  friend,  Arthur  Hender- 
son. He  is  a  commission  merchant.  He  may 
have  a  proposal  to  make  to  you." 

"  Young  man,  if  you  will  enter  my  employment 
I  will  pay  you  twenty  dollars  a  week,"  said  the 
merchant. 

Fred  looked  amazed. 

"  That  is  a  great  deal  more  than  I  am  worth," 
he  said. 

"  Then  you  accept?  " 

Fred  looked  wistfully  at  Mr.  Wainwright. 

"  I  should  not  like  to  leave  Mr.  Wainwright," 
he  said. 

"  Especially  as  he  has  raised  your  pay  to  twenty- 
five  dollars  a  week,"  said  the  banker  smiling. 

"You  can't  be  in  earnest,  sir?  " 

"  When  you  got  your  first  week's  salary  on  Sat- 
urday, you  will  see  that  I  am  in  earnest." 

"  I  see,  then,  that  I  must  do  without  you,"  said 
the  merchant.  "  Wainwright,  I  take  back  all  I 
said.  I  advise  you  to  keep  Fred  by  all  means  as 
long  as  he  will  stay  with  you." 

The  banker  bad  opened  his  check  book  and  was 
writing  out  a  check.  He  tore  it  from  the  book 
and  handed  it  to  Fred.     It  ran  thus  : 


TIIE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  253 

N«.  10,531 

PARK  NATIONAL  BANK. 

Pay  to  the  order  of  FRED  FENTQN 
One  Thousand  Dollars. 
$1000. 

John  Wainwight. 

"  Is  this  for  me  ?  "  asked  Fred  in  amazement. 

"  Yes.  I  ought  perhaps  to  make  it  more,  for  it 
is  less  than  ten  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
bonds." 

"  How  can  I  thank  you,  sir  ?  "  ejaculated  Fred, 
feeling  uncertain  whether  he  was  awake  or  dream- 
ing.    "  I  feel  like  a  millionaire." 

"Have  you  been  home  yet,  Fred?" 

"  No,  sir ;  I  came  here  at  once." 

"  Go  home,  then,  and  spend  the  rest  of  the  day 
with  your  mother.  Do  you  want  to  cash  the  check 
this  morning  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Indorse  it,  then,  and  I  will  hand  you  the  money 
in  bills  to-morrow." 

Fred,  his  face  radiant  with  joy,  left  the  office, 
and  going  to  the  nearest  station  on  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Elevated  Road  bought  a  ticket  and  rode  up 
town. 

There  a  surprise  awaited  him. 


254  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

A  LETTER  FROM  TOM  SLOAN. 

When  Fred  presented  himself  at  home,  after  a 
fortnight's  absence,  his  mother  and  little  brother 
were  overjoyed. 

**  It's  been  awfully  lonely  since  you  went  away, 
Fred,"  said  Albert. 

"I  have  felt  like  Albert,"  said  Mrs.  Fenton. 
"  But  it  was  not  that  that  worried  me  most.  I  was 
afraid  you  might  meet  with  some  accident." 

"  I've  come  home  safe  and  sound,  mother,  as  you 
see.  But  you  don't  ask  me  whether  I  succeeded 
in  my  mission." 

"  I  don't  know  what  your  mission  was." 

"  No ;  it  was  a  secret  of  Mr.  Wainwright's,  and  I 
was  bound  to  keep  it  secret.  I  can  tell  you  now. 
I  was  sent  to  Canada  to  recover  over  ten  thousand 
dollars'  worth  of  stolen  bonds." 

Mrs.  Fenton  looked  amazed. 

"A  boy  like  you  !  "  she  said. 

"  I  don't  wonder  you  are  surprised.  I  was  sup 
prised  myself." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  255 

"  But  who  had  the  bonds,  and  how  did  you 
recover  them  ?  " 

"  Two  men  were  in  the  conspiracy.  One  of  them 
was  sorry  for  the  theft,  and  ready  to  help  me. 
The  other  meant  to  keep  them.  He  had  taken 
them  away  from  his  partner  and  hidden  them  in 
the  forest." 

"And  you  found  them?" 

"  Yes;  sit  down  and  I  will  tell  you  the  story." 

Fred  did  so,  and  when  it  was  finished  he  added : 
"  How  much  do  you  think  Mr.  Wainwright  paid 
«ne  for  my  trouble  ?  " 

"  He  ought  to  pay  you  handsomely." 

"  What  would  you  consider  paying  me  hand- 
somely?" 

"Fifty  dollars,"  answered  his  mother. 

"  He  gave  me  a  thousand  dollars !  " 

"  A  thousand ! "  ejaculated  Mrs.  Fenton,  in- 
credulous. 

"  Yes." 

"  Where's  the  money  ?  "  asked  Albert. 

"  He  gave  it  to  me  in  a  check.  I  shall  collect 
it  to-morrow,  and  invest  it  in  some  safe  way." 

"I  can't  realize  it,  Fred,"  said  Mrs.  Fenton. 
"  Why,  it  will  make  us  rich." 

"  But  that  isn't  all.  My  salary  is  raised  to  twenty- 
five  dollars  a  week." 

"  I  never  heard  of  such  wages  being  given  to  a 
boy  like  you." 


256  THE  EEIE  TRAIN  BOT. 

"  It  was  my  second  offer  this  morning.  A  mer- 
chant, a  friend  of  Mr.  Wainwright,  offered  me 
twent}'  dollars  to  go  into  his  office." 

**  That  is  better  than  being  a  train  boy,  Fred." 

"  Yes ;  but  I  was  glad  to  work  on  the  trains  when 
I  had  nothing  better  to  do." 

Just  then  the  peculiar  whistle  of  the  postman 
was  heard. 

"  Run  downstairs,  Albert,  and  see  if  there  are  any 
letters  for  us,"  said  Fred. 

The  little  boy  returned  in  a  moment  with  an 
envelope  directed  to  Fred  Fenton,  and  postmarked 
Central  City,  Colorado.  He  opened  it  hastily,  and 
exclaimed  :  "  This  is  from  Mr.  Sloan,  who  visited 
us  a  few  months  since." 

"  Read  it  Fred." 

The  letter  was  written  in  rather  an  illegible  hand, 
and  the  spelling  was  rather  eccentric,  for  Mr.  Sloan 
was  not  a  scholar.     As  corrected  it  ran  thus : 


Fbiend  Fred — I  suppose  you  haven't  forgotten  your  old 
friend  Tom  Sloan.  I  have  often  thought  of  how  I  enjoyed 
myself  at  your  home,  and  wished  I  could  call  in  and  take  a 
cup  of  tea  with  you  and  your  mother. 

About  that  land  you  asked  me  to  see,  I've  got  good  news 
for  you.  There's  a  town  built  around  it,  and  the  price  has 
gone  up  to  fancy  figures.  There's  a  party  here  that  wants 
to  buy  it  for  five  thousand  dollars,  but  I  think  I  can  get  a 
little  more.  If  your  mother  will  send  me  a  power  of  attorney, 
I  will  sell  it,  and  send  you  on  the  money.  I'll  do  my  best 
for  you.    No  wonder  that  old  skinflint,  your  uncle,  wanted 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  257 

to  buy  it.    He'd  have  made  a  big  thing  out  of  it.     He  was  a 
fool  not  to  take  it  at  your  own  figures. 

I  hope  you  are  all  well,  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  I  might 
see  you  pretty  soon.  I've  been  lucky  myself,  and  made  a 
respectable  pile.  Old  Tom  Sloan  doesn't  get  left  if  he  can 
he]p  it. 

Well,  good-bye.  Send  on  the  power  of  attorney  by  return 
of  mail. 

Yours  till  death, 

Tom  Sloan. 

"  Five  thousand  dollars  !  "  ejaculated  Mrs.  Fen- 
ton.     "  I  can't  believe  it." 

"  You  will,  mother,  when  you  get  the  money. 
There's  no  time  to  be  lost.  I'll  go  out  at  once  and 
get  the  power  of  attorney,  and  we'll  write  at  once, 
telling  Mr.  Sloan  to  do  whatever  he  thinks  best. 
Do  you  agree  to  that,  mother  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Fred.  He  is  a  good  man,  and  I  trust  him 
entirely." 


258  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOX, 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

COUSIN  FEIIGUSON. 

In  a  fortnight  Fred  received  from  Colorado  an 
order  on  a  New  York  banker  for  six  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars,  being  the  purchase  money  on  the 
Colorado  lands. 

He  at  once  carried  it  to  Mr.  Wainwright,  and 
invested  it  in  securities  recommended  by  that 
gentleman." 

"  I  congratulate  you  heartily,  Fred,"  said  the 
banker.  "  I  didn't  know  that  I  was  taking  into 
my  employ  a  young  man  of  fortune." 

"  It  has  come  upon  me  so  suddenly  that  I  can't 
realize  it  myself." 

"  I  consider  you  worthy  of  your  good  luck,  my 
boy.  You  ought  to  save  up  money  out  of  your 
wages." 

"  I  intend  to  sir,  but  I  am  going  to  give  my 
mother  a  better  home  now  that  I  can  afford  it,  and 
will  see  that  my  little  brother  has  a  better  educa- 
tion than  I  have  had." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  259 

"  It  is  not  too  late  to  supply  the  deficiencies  in 
your  own  case.  You  cannot  do  better  than  join 
the  evening  classes  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  and  do  what  you  can  to  improve  your- 
self." 

"I  will  follow  your  advice,  Mr.  Wainwright. 
Now  that  I  am  no  longer  anxious  about  money 
matters,  I  want  to  qualify  myself  for  a  better  social 
position." 

Only  two  days  after  the  receipt  of  the  money 
from  Colorado,  another  letter,  as  unexpected  as 
Mr.  Sloan's,  reached  Mrs.  Fenton.  The  substance 
of  it  was  comprised  in  the  closing  paragraph. 
"  Send  your  son  round  to  my  house  this  evening. 
I  am  prepared  to  make  you  a  better  offer  for  the 
Colorado  land.  It's  of  little  value,  but  some  day 
may  be  worth  more  than  at  present.  As  you  are 
straitened  in  means  I  can  better  afford  to  wait  than 
you,  and  shall  feel  satisfaction  in  relieving  your 
necessities." 

Fred  read  this  letter  attentively.  "  I  hate  a  hypo- 
crite," he  said.  "  Mr.  Ferguson  pretends  that  he 
wants  to  help  us,  while  he  is  scheming  to  cheat  us 
out  of  a  large  sum,  relying  upon  our  ignorance  of 
the  increased  value  of  the  land.'* 

"  Shall  I  write  and  tell  him  that  we  have  sold 
the  land  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Fenton. 

"  No,  I  will  call  and  see  him  this  evening,  as  he 
requests." 


260  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  But  it  will  do  no  good." 

"I  want  to  find  out  how  much  he  is  willing  to 
give.  I  shan't  let  him  know  that  the  land  is  sold 
till  he  has  made  an  offer." 

"  Don't  say  anything  to  provoke  Cousin  Fer- 
guson, Fred." 

"  Don't  worry,  mother.  I  will  be  perfectly  re- 
spectful." 

About  half-past  seven  Fred  rang  the  bell  at  the 
door  of  the  house  on  East  Thirty -Ninth  Street. 
Evidently  he  was  expected,  for,  on  his  inquiring 
for  Mr.  Ferguson,  he  was  shown  at  once  into  the 
presence  of  his  rich  relation. 

"  Good  evening,  Fredrick,"  said  Mr.  Fergu- 
son, with  unusual  graciousness.  "How  is  your 
mother?" 

"  Very  well,  thank  you,  sir." 

"  I  hope  you  are  getting  along  comfortably." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  we  have  no  right  to  complain." 

"  That  is  well,"  said  Mr.  Ferguson  condescend- 
ingly. "  I  presume  the  boy  is  making  five  dollars 
a  week  or  some  such  matter,"  he  soliloquized. 
"  That  is  very  well  for  a  boy  like  him." 

"  I  made  you  an  offer  for  your  father's  land  in 
Colorado  a  few  months  ago,"  he  went  on  carelessly. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  You  thought  my  offer  too  small." 

"  Yes,  sir.  Twenty-five  dollars  would  be  of  very 
little  value  to  us." 


TEE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  261 

"  There  I  disagree  with  you.  Twenty-five  dol- 
lars to  a  family  situated  as  yours  is,  is  no  trifle." 

A  faint  smile  flickered  over  Fred's  face.  He 
wondered  what  Mr.  Ferguson  would  say  if  he  knew 
precisely  how  they  were  situated. 

"Still,"  resumed  the  merchant,  "you  did  right 
to  refuse.  I  am  inclined  to  think  the  land  is  a 
little  more  valuable  than  I  supposed." 

Fred  was  rather  surprised.  Was  Cousin  Ferguson 
going  to  act  a  liberal  part,  and  offer  anything  like 
a  fair  price  for  the  land  ?  He  waited  curiously  to 
hear  what  he  would  say  next. 

"  Yes,"  continued  Mr.  Ferguson  magnanimously, 
"I  admit  that  I  offered  you  too  little  for  your 
land." 

"So  I  thought  at  the  time,  sir,"  Fred  said 
quietly. 

"And I  am  now  prepared  to  rectify  my  mistake. 
You  may  tell  your  mother  that  I  will  give  her 
a  hundred  dollars  for  it." 

"  A  hundred  dollars  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  that  is  probably  more  than  it  is  worth  at 
present,  but  I  can  afford  to  wait  until  it  increases 
in  value." 

Mr.  Ferguson  sat  back  in  his  arm-chair  and  fixed 
his  eyes  on  Fred  with  the  air  of  one  who  has  made 
a  most  generous  offer. 

"Did  your  mother  authorize  you  to  make  a 
bargain  ?  "  he  inquired. 


262  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  ROT. 

"  No,  sir." 

"She  wished  you  to  report  to  her,  I  suppose. 
This  offer  will  hold  good  for  twenty-four  hours. 
You  can  come  around  to-morrow  evening,  and  the 
matter  can  be  settled  at  once.  It  may  be  well  for 
your  mother  to  come  round  also,  as  her  signature 
will  be  required  to  the  bill  of  sale." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  disappoint  you,  Mr.  Ferguson, 
but  I  don't  think  we  will  sell." 

"  Young  man,"  said  Ferguson  severely,  "  if  you 
advise  your  mother  to  reject  this  offer,  you  will 
take  upon  yourself  a  great  responsibility." 

"  Mr.  Ferguson,"  rejoined  Fred,  fixing  his  eyes 
on  the  merchant,  "  do  you  advise  my  mother,  as  a 
friend,  to  accept  this  offer?" 

"  Of  course,  of  course.  It  is  the  best  thing  she 
can  do." 

"  I  have  no  right  to  doubt  your  sincerity,  but  I 
think  the  land  is  worth  more  than  you  offer." 

"  What  can  you  know  about  it?"  demanded 
Ferguson  impatiently. 

"  A  gentleman  who  had  traveled  in  Colorado 
called  on  us  a  while  ago.  He  seems  to  think  the 
land  is  quite  valuable." 

"  Stuff  and  nonsense  !  The  man  was  humbug- 
ging you." 

"  He  was  a  miner,"  continued  Fred  placidly. 
"  He  promised  to  look  up  the  matter  for  us." 

"  You  were  very  rash  to  trust  a  stranger,     The 


THE  EEIE  TRAIN  BOY.  268 

best  thing  you  can  do  is  to  disregard  any  advice 
he  may  have  given  you,  and  accept  my  offer." 

"  There  is  one  difficulty  in  the  way,"  said  Fred. 

"What  is  that?" 

"We  have  sold  the  land!" 


264  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

CONCLUSION. 

"  You  have  sold  the  land  ?  "  repeated  Mr.  Fer- 
guson in  dismay. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  permit  me  to  say  that  you  and  your 
mother  have  acted  like  fools  ! "  said  Ferguson 
harshly.  "  In  a  matter  like  this  you  should  have 
consulted  me.  What  do  you  or  your  mother  know 
about  business  ?  " 

"  I  think  we  did  pretty  well,  "  said  Fred  placidly, 

"  What  did  you  sell  for?"  asked  Ferguson 
abruptly. 

"  Six  thousand  five  hundred  dollars !  "  answered 
the  ex-train  boy. 

Robert  Ferguson  stared  at  Fred  in  amazement 
and  incredulity. 

"  Don't  play  any  of  your  practical  jokes  on  me  ! " 
he  said  sternly. 

"  I  don't  intend  to,  sir.  We  gave  Mr.  Sloan  a 
power  of  attorney,  and  he  sold  it  for  us." 

"  He  says  he  did !  "  sneered  Ferguson.  "  You 
will  never  get  the  money." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  265 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Ferguson.     We  have  received 

the  money  already. 

"  When  ?  "  gasped  the  merchant. 

"  Two  days  ago." 

The  face  of  Robert  Ferguson  was  a  study.  Dis- 
appointed cupidity  succeeded  his  first  incredulity. 
He  began  to  consider  that  he  must  convince  Fred 
that  he  had  acted  in  good  faith.  With  an  effort 
he  smoothed  down  his  face  and  conjured  up  a 
smile. 

"  You  quite  take  my  breath  away, "  he  said.  "  I 
can  hardly  believe  that  the  land  which  I  thought 
worthless  should  have  realized  such  a  sum.  Have 
any  mines  been  discovered  on  them  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  but  a  village  has  sprung  up  in  the  im- 
mediate neighborhood." 

"  I  am  heartily  glad  of  it.  Tell  your  mother  so. 
How  could  I  have  been  so  deceived  ?  By  the  way, 
it  will  be  best  for  you  to  put  the  money  in  the 
hands  of  some  responsible  person  to  take  care  of 
for  you.  As  a  near  relative  I  shall  be  glad  to  in- 
vest the  amount  for  you  safely  along  with  my  own." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  but  we  have  already  invested 
it." 

Mr.  Ferguson  frowned. 

"  I  predict  that  you  will  lose  half  of  it,"  he  said. 

"  I  don't  think  so.  I  had  advice  in  the  invest- 
ment." 

"  Who  advised  you  ?  " 


266  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

"  John  Wainwright,  the  banker." 

"  Do  you  know  him  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  he  is  my  employer." 

"  I  believe  I  remember  that  Raymond  told  me  so. 
Of  course  he  is  a  good  adviser.  How  much  does 
he  pay  you?" 

"  Twenty-five  dollars  a  week." 

"  Do  you  take  me  for  a  fool?"  demanded  Fer- 
guson angrily. 

"  No,  sir  ;  and  you  have  no  right  to  take  me  for 
a  liar,"  answered  Fred,  firmly. 

"  But  such  a  salary  for  a  boy  of  sixteen  is  ridic- 
ulous ! " 

"  It  does  seem  so  ;  but  Mr.  Wainwright  sent  me 
to  Canada  to  recover  over  ten  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  stolen  bonds,  and  I  succeeded  in  bringing 
them  back." 

Slowly  it  dawned  upon  Mr.  Ferguson  that  the 
youth  before  him  was  not  only  a  favorite  of  fortune, 
but  a  remarkably  smart  boy.  He  was  evidently  on 
the  rise.  Would  it  not  be  politic  to  take  notice 
of  him?" 

"  Fred,"  he  said  with  sudden  friendliness,  "  I  am 
pleased  to  hear  of  your  good  fortune.  You  have 
done  credit  to  the  family.  We  ought  to  be  more 
intimate.  In  proof  of  my  desire  for  closer  rela- 
tions I  shall  send  cards  to  you  and  your  mother  for 
my  daughter  Luella's  wedding.  She  is  to  be  mar- 
ried next  Thursday  evening  to  an  Italian  count. 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  267 

Probably  you  have  suitable  attire,  or,  if  not,  you 
can  easily  obtain  it.     Give  me  your  address." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  I  am  not  sure  whether  my 
mother  will  attend,  but  I  shall  be  happy  to  do  so." 

The  door  opened,  and  Raymond  Ferguson 
entered. 

"  Good  evening,  Raymond,"  said  Fred  pleas- 
antly. 

"  Good  evening,"  answered  Raymond,  coldly. 

"Your  cousin  Frederick  has  been  very  fortunate," 
said  the  elder  Ferguson  genially.  "  He  and  his 
mother  have  come  into  some  thousands  of  dollars, 
and  he  is  receiving  a  handsome  salary  from  Mr. 
Wain  wright,  the  banker.  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you 
two  intimate." 

"  Is  that  so  ?  "  asked  Raymond,  thawing. 

"  I  am  glad  to  say  it  is,"  answered  Fred. 

"  Would  you  like  to  invite  your  cousin  to  attend 
the  theater,  Raymond?" 

';  Just  what  I  was  going  to  ask.  There  is  a  good 
play  on  at  Wallack's." 

"  Very  well !     Here  is  a  five  dollar  bill." 

"  Come  along,  Fred,"  said  Raymond,  who  had 
made  up  his  mind  it  would  be  wise  to  cultivate  the 
acquaintance  of  his  once  despised  relative. 

Before  they  parted  for  the  evening,  Raymond 
borrowed  five  dollars  of  Fred,  and  struck  up  a  close 
friendship  with  him.  While  Fred  understood  per- 
fectly  well  what   had  produced  this   remarkable 


268  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

change  in  his  cousin  he  was  philosophical  enough 
to  take  the  world  as  he  found  it,  and  accepted  Ray- 
mond's advances. 

The  next  day  wedding  cards,  elaborately  en- 
graved were  received  at  Fred's  modest  home,  re- 
questing Mrs.  Fenton  and  her  son's  presence  at 
the  marriage  ceremony  of  Luella  Ferguson  and 
Count  Vincento  Cattelli.  But  an  unexpected 
circumstance  prevented  the  nuptials  from  being 
celebrated. 

One  evening  the  count  and  Miss  Ferguson  were 
sitting  at  supper  at  Delmonico's.  At  a  table  near 
by  sat  a  gentleman,  who  watched  the  young  couple 
with  curious  attention.  He  rose  finally  and 
approached  them. 

"  Miss  Ferguson,  I  believe,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  don't  know  if  you  remember  me,  but  I  dined 
at  your  father's  house  one  evening  in  February. 
My  name  is  Stanwood." 

"  I  remember  you  now,  Mr.  Stanwood.  Let  me 
make  you  acquainted  with  Count  Cattelli." 

"  I  am  honored,"  said  Stanwood  with  a  curious 
smile. 

"  This  lady  is  my  affianced  bride,"  said  the  count. 

"  Indeed !  I  congratulate  you.  By  the  way, 
haven't  I  met  you  before  ?  " 

"  If  you  have  been  in  Italy,  sare.  I  am  Count 
Cattelli  of  Milan." 


THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY.  269 

Stanwood  smiled  slightly,  and  returned  to  his 
own  table. 

The  next  day  Miss  Ferguson  received  the  follow- 
ing note  : 

My  Dear  Miss  Ferguson  : 

What  I  am  about  to  write  will  pain  you,  but  I  cannot  per- 
mit you  to  be  grossly  deceived.  The  gentleman  whom  you 
introduced  to  me  as  Count  Cattelli  at  Delmonico's  last  even- 
ing shaved  me  last  March  in  a  barber  shop  in  Chicago.  He 
may  be  a  count,  bnt  I  advise  you  to  speak  to  your  father  on 
the  subject.  Your  well  wisher, 

Charles  Stanwood. 

Miss  Ferguson  went  into  a  fit  of  hysterics,  but 
followed  the  advice  of  her  correspondent.  The 
count,  on  being  taxed  with  his  deception,  first  in- 
dulged in  bravado,  but  finally  acknowledged  that 
he  had  served  as  a  barber,  but  still  claimed  to  be 
a  count.  Mr.  Ferguson,  intensely  mortified,  agreed 
to  give  him  two  hundred  dollars  if  he  would  leave 
the  city  at  once.  Notices  that  the  wedding  had 
been  indefinitely  postponed  were  sent  to  all  who 
had  received  cards,  and  Luella  disappeared  for  a 
time.  There  were  numerous  reports  as  to  the 
cause  of  the  marriage  being  postponed,  but  the 
secret  was  well  kept.  Luella  is  still  unmarried, 
and  is  likely  to  remain  so,  unless  some  one  marries 
her  for  her  money. 

Ruth  Patton  is  now  the  wife  of  Alfred  Lindsay. 
The  young   lawyer   made  a  private  call  on  Mr. 


270  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY. 

Ferguson,  which  resulted  in  the  latter  disgorging, 
the  ten  thousand  dollars  of  which  he  had  defrauded 
Ruth's  mother,  so  that  she  did  not  come  to  her 
husband  portionless. 

All  goes  well  with  Fred  Fenton.  He  is  still  in 
the  employ  of  John  Wainwright,  on  a  largely  in- 
creased salary,  and  is  always  a  welcome  guest  at 
the  home  of  the  banker.  Rose  is  as  partial  to  him 
as  ever,  and  it  would  not  be  surprising  if  she  should 
some  day  marry  the  ex  Erie  train  boy.  Fred  and 
his  mother  live  in  a  handsome  flat  up  town,  and 
Albert,  his  young  brother,  is  making  rapid  progress 
as  a  designer.  It  looks  as  if  the  clouds  had  passed 
away,  succeeded  by  the  sunshine  of  permanent 
prosperity. 


THE  END, 


